Christ Prep Falls to West Platte

It was too little, too late, Friday night for the Christ Prep Patriots as the team lost 49-33 to the West Platte Blue Jays in Weston, Missouri.

The Patriots dug themselves a deep hole early as the Blue Jays returned the opening kickoff to the Patriots' 11 yard line. Two plays later West Platte connected on an 11-yard TD strike. CPA countered shortly thereafter as Lenard Manuel scampered around left end for a Patriot touchdown. The Blue Jays then scored a couple of unanswered touchdowns and the Patriots found themselves down 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Things didn't get much better for the Patriots in the second quarter as West Platte put up three more touchdowns to CPA's one. The result was a 42-13 halftime deficit for the Christ Prep.

CPA mounted a second half charge, scoring three touchdowns to the Blue Jays' one. But in the end CPA fell short to the Blue Jays, who improved to 3-2 with the win. Christ Prep fell to 2-2 with the loss.

Another outstanding rushing performance was delivered by Lenard Manuel. The Patriot senior amassed 298 total yards rushing on 21 tries for an average of over 14 yards per carry with two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Darren Wallace also had good success running the ball. Wallace totalled 124 yards on 23 carries, averaging over 5 yards per run while scoring three touchdowns.

The Blue Jays frustrated the Patriots passing attack most of the night, however, as Wallace completed 4 of 12 passes for 44 yards with three interceptions. Wallace connected with Demonta Bailey for three of the completions. Bailey also caught a Wallace pass for a 2-point conversion.  Wallace added one kicking PAT.

Following is the box score excerpted from the Kansas City Star:

West Platte (WPL) 49 Christ Prep (CPA) 33
CPA (2-3)   7-6-14-6 = 33
WPL (3-2) 21-21-7-0 = 49


WPL: TD Cole Shepherd 80 kickoff return (Alex Roe kick)


CPA: TD Lemard Manuel 67 run (Darren Wallace kick)


WPL: TD Seth Rulon 11 pass from Brett Grindstaff (A Roe kick)


WPL: TD C Shepherd 10 run (A Roe kick)


CPA: TD D Wallace 2 run (kick failed)


WPL: TD C Shepherd 50 run (A Roe kick)


WPL: TD Colby Clemens 3 pass from B Grindstaff (kick failed)


WPL: TD Raleigh Graham 11 pass from B Grindstaff (Hunter Faris pass from B Grindstaff)


WPL: TD R Graham 13 pass from B Grindstaff (A Roe kick)


CPA: TD D Wallace 4 run (Demonta Bailey pass from D Wallace)


CPA: TD L Manuel 10 run (pass failed)


CPA: TD D Wallace 9 run (pass failed)

Stay tuned for more information this weekend as we'll have photos and more statistics from the West Platte game. The Patriots also play today at 1:00 p.m. at Shawnee Mission North against Steelville.