Kansas City Star, The (MO)
June 21, 2000
Edition: METROPOLITAN
Section: WYANDOTTE/LEAVENWORTH STAR
Page: 13

All-Stars provide excitement late in Metro Classic
Author: IVAN CARTER

Perhaps Grandview defensive back Rickey Hunley Jr., summed it up best as he furiously paced the Missouri sideline last Thursday in the final minutes of the Metro Classic football game, a game won by Kansas 19-14.

"Hey, man, don't write that story yet. This thing ain't over, baby, we're gonna win."

At the time, it would have been hard to argue with Hunley, a hard-hitting cornerback who is headed for Drake University and never appears to be short on words.

After being dominated by the Kansas All-Stars for three quarters, the Missouri team had just scored its first touchdown on the kind of play you used to draw up in the dirt as a kid in the backyard.

That is, you drew it up, but it never seemed to work. Well, this time it did.

From his 24-yard line, Missouri quarterback Michael Cooper of Oak Park lateraled to receiver Jake Fuller of Park Hill. Meanwhile, Lee's Summit North running back Kegan Coleman was streaking down the field and had gotten behind the Kansas secondary.

Fuller saw him, lofted a perfect pass (hey, he's a baseball player) and Coleman hauled it in before turning on the jets for an 80-yard touchdown play.

"I saw Kegan and just threw it up there," said Fuller with an it-worked-and-I-still-don't-believe-it grin. "That was a cool play."

That launched the entire Missouri bench into celebration. But the fun wasn't over yet.

Following a Kansas touchdown, the Missouri squad pulled out some more fourth quarter shenanigans, thanks to a play called "pickle,"
of all things.

What is pickle?

"It's our hook and ladder play, and I'm not sure why we call it pickle" Blue Springs South quarterback Jeff Abbott said. "We used it in a game at Park Hill earlier this season, and I told everybody it would work here. I told them in the locker room that if it didn't work, I'd buy everyone dinner."

Sure enough, the play worked, and it was the Blue Springs South threesome of Abbott, who saved himself quite a bit of money, and receivers Casey Liddle and Michael Overstreet who made it work.

Abbott rifled a pass over the middle to Liddle, who fought off a defender for the ball, fell to the ground (the play should have been called dead, but hey, it's an all star game) and chucked it in the air towards Overstreet who tucked it away and ran for the 80-yard touchdown.

By now, both stands were going berserk, and what had once been a typically boring all-star game was now a thrilling event.

Meanwhile, back on the sideline, Hunley was reminding everyone with a notepad that the game was not over.

After some more fourth quarter excitement by the Missouri squad, Kansas held on for the victory. Still, as the Missouri players mingled with friends and family after the game, smiles wide, eyes bright, winning and losing really didn't seem to matter.

"That was just a fun game to play in," said Ruskin linebacker Darren Bowen, who delivered a crunching sack late in the game. "We wanted to win, but the important thing is, we didn't quit and we had a good time."

Bowen's sentiments were echoed by folks who headed toward the parking lot muttering things like "I can't believe what I just saw," and "What a great game."

For parents, fans and reporters alike, this night proved one thing: High school football is still the best game in town.

Even in June.

Copyright 2000 The Kansas City Star Co.