ShawneeDispatch.com

Shawnee Mission North improved to 2-0 for the first time under coach Ryan Majors on Friday with a 41-0 victory over Leavenworth.

For the seniors, the 41-0 victory was the first time in their careers they had defeated the Pioneers.

Shawnee Mission North lost a tough road game to Leavenworth last season in a game that was decided on the final play of the game.

The game was a faint memory for the Indians in the moments after Friday’s game when the band rolled that familiar fight song, students rushed to the midfield portion of the track and Majors found his way to the 10-yard line near the home end zone.

He watched it all unfold as players gathered with their classmates and then came and huddled in front of him.

They looked at him intently, smiles on their faces.

Majors spoke to his team about having a good thing going. He spoke about the need to continue doing things the right way.

He praised their play.

Players’ eyes were transfixed on him, signals of a team that is buying in.

The message continued and when it was over, players huddled and broke it down.

Then, Majors spoke about the victory.

“It is great to be 2-0; 1-0 was something we had not had,” he said. “It makes the next week of practice so much better. It is that much easier for the players to buy into what we are doing.”

There were plenty of reasons to buy in Friday. North led from the start of the game.

The Indians scored five plays into the game on a 41-yard touchdown run by Arthur Rucker.

Rucker, who switched to running back from quarterback this season, broke the Pioneers’ containment and burst around the corner for a touchdown. Rucker had two carries for 49 yards on the drive.

The Indians’ defense allowed a first down from Leavenworth, but then forced a punt.

Rucker and fullback Joe Haas led the North offense on the next drive. Haas had a 34-yard run, and he later rushed in for a 2-yard touchdown.

The Indians scored again on their next possession with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Goodburn to Will Maynard.

North led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Leavenworth fumbled the football early in the second quarter, and Avery Richard recovered it. North failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

Leavenworth put together a nice drive on its next possession, but then it stalled.

North scored on its next drive with a touchdown pass from Goodburn to Ryan Finazzo and led 27-0 halftime.

The Indians scored early in the third quarter when Leavenworth fumbled and Luke Lohmeyer returned the ball 30 yards for a touchdown.

Lohmeyer’s play headlined a sound defensive effort for the Indians who shut down the Pioneers’ offense throughout the game.

“It was our whole defense, guys doing their jobs, no one stood out more than the others,” Majors said.

North later scored on a Kendall Kelly run from three yards out. The play was set up by a 39-yard pass from Kyle Goodburn to Brandon Currie. The score was 41-0.

The Indians continued to dominate the game in the fourth quarter, though neither team scored.

North featured a balance rushing and passing attack throughout the game.

The Indians had numerous running backs pick up yards in the game. They had numerous players make critical tackles in the rout.

North players performed well in front of a crowd of students, staff and football alumni. Former coaches and players were honored on the track at halftime of the game.

Majors said throughout the summer he pointed toward this game to his team, as one when the team would need to play well and show signs of returning the program to the proud tradition that it has had in the past.

“We talked all summer about the pride in the work of our seniors who have stuck with us in the tough years and are working to build North back up to where it has been in the past,” Majors said.

North, 2-0, travels to play Lawrence Free State next Friday.

“We have to continue to get better in week three,” he said. “Nobody in this league stays the same.”

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