Through the first half, the Sumner Academy Sabres were in a back and forth battle with Topeka Seaman on the road Friday night.

But a 21-0 third quarter for Seaman carried them to a 53-34 victory against the Sabres, who conclude the season 6-4.

Seaman's Spencer Vanderbogart kicked off the scoring quickly, scoring from eight yards out.

Sumner responded the quickest way possible – returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. As he has most of the season, returner Benny Parker provided Sumner a spark with a 92-yard kickoff return.

Sumner would take its first lead of the game after Eli Alexander scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Armand Brisbane. Brisbane was 18-32 for 338 yards and three touchdowns.

Trailing 12-7 after Sumner failed to convert on both two-point conversion attempts, Seaman's Nathan Stanley scored from 23 yards out.

Sumner would punch back one more time.

Running back Torrel Saffold scored from seven yards out, giving Sumner its last lead at 20-15 following a two-point conversion from Vernon Vaughn.

From there, Seaman scored 28 unanswered points.

Kyle Dunham was on the receiving end of a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Hurla. Seaman's Stanley punched it in from three yards, providing Seaman its first two possession lead at 29-20.

An interception return from Hurla added to the lead at 36-20.

Sumner's Vaughn scored the Sabres' final touchdown, narrowing Seaman's lead to 50-34.

The Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers handed Schlagle a shutout loss to close out the season.

The Trailblazers rushed for over 300 yards, defeating Schlagle 49-0.

Quarterback Bubba Starling led the way with 163 yards on just eight carries. He scored three touchdowns, including the game's opening seven points on a 70-yard touchdown run.

Brett Jensen added 111 yards on 12 carries, scoring the second touchdown of the game.

Leading 21-0 at halftime, Gardner-Edgerton scored 14 points early on in the third, including a 24-yard touchdown pass by Starling to Alex Knorr.

Starling scored the game's two final touchdowns from five yards out and 18 yards out, both on the ground.

Schlagle finishes 5-5 on the season, while Gardner improves to 10-0 on the season.

David Gauntt (#7) led Shawnee Heights to an upset victory on the road against Turner Friday night.

Mistakes and a few bad breaks led to an upset loss for the Turner Golden Bears football team.

Shawnee Heights defeated Turner 14-10 Friday night at Piper High School, eliminating the second seeded Wyandotte County team from the Kansas 5A Playoffs.

Both teams scored in the first half behind big running plays.

On the opening play of Shawnee Heights' second drive, running back Donnie Lockhart scored from 71 yards out, giving the Thunderbirds a 7-0 lead.

Turner, who only had one first down in the opening quarter, got things going in the second quarter despite faulty coaching head-sets through the first half.

Rashon Thames, who had 162 yards on the ground on 24 carries, rushed for 71 of them on one play early in the second quarter to set up Turner's opening score.

From the nine, David Bernal scored, tying the game up at seven.

The defenses stepped up in the second quarter, with each team throwing interceptions inside the other's red zone.

But Turner's key mistake came in the third quarter. The Bears were deep in Thunderbird territory when Thames fumbled, turning over the ball back to the Thunderbirds.

Two red zone turnovers were the difference in the game.

"Usually the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins," said Allen Terrell, head coach of the Golden Bears. "We had a lot of things go wrong in the game. It took us longer to adjust without headsets and we had a wrong call on the long score early."

Despite the mistakes, Turner would hold a lead late into the fourth quarter, as kicker Nick Rodriguez drilled a 34-yarder midway through the fourth.

However, quarterback David Gauntt came back and delivered Shawnee Heights a game-winning drive.

He connected on two key plays on the drive, passing for 174 yards in the game. He capped off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left.

Turner responded with one more opportunity.

Quarterback Nick Bloomer connected with Thames on a screen pass on a fourth and five. Thames scrambled for a nice chunk of yardage, driving the ball near the red zone.

The Golden Bears were unable to convert a second fourth down, as a a gadget play did not fool the Thunderbirds.

Concluding the season 8-2, Terrell said the Golden Bears senior class stepped up.

"We're very proud of how far they came," he said. "If people had seen this group four years ago, they would be very proud of how it turned out. We had a great run last year and we didn't want to take a step back this year."

The high school football season in Wyandotte County is officially over.

After Piper was eliminated on Tuesday, Turner, Schlagle and Sumner Academy were all defeated.

Turner lost a tough thriller to Shawnee Heights 14-10 at Piper High School. The Sabres of Sumner Academy lost a shootout with Topeka Seaman 53-34. Schlagle, meanwhile, was banked 49-0 by Gardner-Edgerton.

Recaps soon.

 

Here is a light load of police reports filed Thursday by the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department.

ASSAULT

• 1600 Block of S. 30th Street

BURGLARY/THEFTS

• 5600 Block of Wolcott Drive: Ticket stolen from Lakeside Speedway
• 200 Block of Central Avenue: 40 foot metal container stolen
• 300 Block of Greeley Avenue: Playstation 3, games stolen
• 40 Block of S. 14th Street: Tool stolen
• 1700 Block of Stewart Avenue: Kansas license plate stolen
• 7400 Block of Greeley Avenue: Kansas vehicle plate stolen
• 900 Block of N. 61st Terrace: $8,000 in tools stolen, large tool box taken
• 4200 Block of Douglas Avenue: Records stolen
• 4600 Block of Yecker Avenue: MP3 player stolen, digital camera taken and Kodak Pixal Camera stolen
• 6900 Block of State Avenue: Spray-paint shoplifted

CAR THEFTS

• 2500 Block of Everett
• 7700 Block of State Avenue

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

• 4600 Block of State Avenue: Truck damaged
• 78th and Everett Avenue: Window damaged
• 2800 Block of New Jersey: Window damaged
• 75th and Interstate 70
• 90 Block of N. 74th Drive: Graffiti

DRUGS

• 34th and Haskell: Crack pipe found
• 17th and Quindaro: Marijuana found
• 14th and Kansas Avenue: Drug paraphernalia found
• 400 Block of Sandusky: Marijuana found

IDENTITY THEFT

• 3900 Block of Everett
• 1400 Block of N. 63rd Place

The Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department is responding to a grass fire at 4500 August Lane.

The fire has not caused extensive damage and no injuries have been reported.

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A Basehor, Kan., man has been sentenced for four years in prison after killing a Kansas City, Kan., teenager while driving drunk.

Eric Snitz, 41, was sentenced by Wyandotte County Judge J. Dexter Burdette to four years in prison this afternoon. Snitz was driving drunk on Jan. 26, 2008, when he hit 17-year-old Christopher Brown's car.

Brown suffered head injuries and died in a hospital.

In August, Snitz pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter. He was previously convicted of driving drunk twice.

Jesus Omar Baylon-Garcia, 26 of Kansas City, Kan., has been charged by a federal grand jury with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.

The alleged crimes were committed Oct. 22 in Wyandotte County.

He could face a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million on the drug charge. He faces maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge.

Three men from Kansas City, Mo., have been charged in connection to an attempted bank robbery earlier this month.

Kenneth Rayford (58), Paul G. Rayford (32) and Claude White (54) have all been charged with one count of attempted bank robbery, one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The three men are alleged to have attempted to rob the Interstate Federa Savings and Loan in Kansas City, Kan., on Oct. 23.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the attempted bank robbery charge, not less than five years consecutive to other sentences and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

They could also face a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.

Kansas City Wizards defender and captain Jimmy Conrad has been named the 2009 U.S. Soccer Foundation/MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Award.

While this is the first time Conrad has won the league award, he's been named Kansas City's Team Humanitarian of the Year three times.

"It's an incredible honor to be thought about in these terms,” Conrad said, “and I know my parents will be very proud of me."

Conrad works with local schools, youth organizations and MLS W.O.R.K.S initiatives in the Kansas City area. He speaks with students about teamwork and presents information to them on setting goals.

“The best gift someone can give is themselves and their time,” Jennifer Currier, Midwest Regional Walk Director for Autism Speaks said. “Jimmy is busy in the community, spreading awareness about Autism and promoting healthy activity among children. He honestly cares about the kids and helps them have fun at clinics and other events.”

Conrad shares the award with Chicago's Logan Pause.

While this may be more national than local, over 190,000 jobs were slashed in October, bringing the national employment rate to 10.2 percent.

The unemployment rate in Wyandotte County jumped back to 10.4 percent last month. It's the highest in the State of Kansas.

The national rate is at its highest since 1983.

U.S. employers cut a deeper-than-expected 190,000 jobs in October, government data showed on Friday, driving the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest in 26-1/2 years.

The Labor Department said the unemployment rate was the highest since April 1983 and October's non-farm payrolls loss was the smallest since August last year. It revised job losses for August and September to show 91,000 fewer jobs lost than previously reported.

Antwuan Taylor of Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to murder yesterday.

He was charged with first degree murder in connection to an incident on April 19, 2008. Charles McElroy was murdered at 32nd and Brown. He was shot multiple times to his stomach.

Taylor is just 15 years and is set for sentencing on Dec. 10.

For those traveling on Interstate 70 soon, there may be a traffic hazard to deal with.

A large bucket of nails was spilled on I-70 Eastbound near the Interstate 635 entry/exit ramp.

Most of the nails are in the middle lane. About five minutes ago, there were some cars backed up.

UPDATE (3:15): If possible, it's probably best to avoid I-70 East for now.

Multiple flat tires are being addressed, according to multiple police/EMS respondents at the scene. The quantity of nails described is "large." 

A "traffic hazard" has been declared.

UPDATE (3:18) : The scene has now been broadoned from 62nd Street to the ramps near I-635. It's being recommended by officials on the scene not to travel on this passage of the highway.

UPDATE (3:25): A few updates –

• At least one driver had multiple flat tires due to the nails.

• The incident is now being described as an accident. The bucket apparently fell from a truck.

• The driver of the vehicle that last the nails has reported back on the scene and said the business will "take responsibility" for the flat tires and accident.

UPDATE (3:52): No major updates in past half hour or so. The Kansas Department of Transportation arrived at the scene earlier in the hour to clear the nails. At least seven cars were lined up along I-70 in need of assistance.

Turner quarterback Nick Bloomer, left, and Rashon Thames (behind him) led Turner to an 8-1 record this year.

The regular season has finished and the 4A State Playoffs have began. Friday's slate of games will include Turner, Schlagle and Sumner Academy.

A look at the final high school football regular season rankings for Wyandotte County.

1. Turner: The Golden Bears go wire to wire in The Kansan's power rankings. At 8-1, the Bears host Shawnee Heights tomorrow night at Piper High School. Running back Rashon Thames has led Turner all season.

2. Piper: While the Pirates were knocked out of the playoffs on Tuesday, they improved five games from last year and defeated Bishop Ward and Sumner Academy, thus giving them the second spot to close the regular season. Jasper Sanders was the team's MVP, as he led the Pirates through the air and on the ground.

3. Bishop Ward: Although the Cyclones missed the playoffs, they finish third in the rankings. Led by a very impressive rushing attack all season, the Cyclones finished 6-3 and because of being placed in a tough district with Piper and Basehor-Linwood, they missed out on postseason play.

4. Sumner Academy: The Sabres go back to state for the second straight year. The Kansas City, Kan., League champs look to defeat Topeka-Seaman on the road Friday evening.

5. Schlagle: Finishing 6-3, the Stallions have the biggest challenge of any school in Wyandotte County, playing Gardner-Edgerton Friday night. Gardner-Edgerton is 9-0 on the season.

6. Harmon: The Hawks, losing their final two games, pushed KCK champion Sumner Academy and the Golden Bears to the limit the last two weeks. Defensive improvements for the team were very noticeable this season.

7. Bonner Springs: The Braves were up and down all season long. 

8. Wyandotte: The Bulldogs snapped a lengthy losing streak this season, but lost were unable to get their second win of the season.

9. Washington: Finishing 1-8 and 0-4 in KCK play, the Wildcats were the season's biggest disappointment.