SportsZone Football Friday Game of the Week Preview: Lee’s Summit at Hickman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The first round of playoffs are here for high school football teams across Missouri.
After falling in the final three games, the Hickman Kewpies are looking to bounce back and return to form against Lee's Summit. The team has battled through injuries in the final weeks but with the return of quarterback Bredun Bursey, head coach Justin Conyers is confident the offense will find its footing.
"Having Bredun back this week fully, I think that's really helped alleviate some stress," Conyers said. "But we've also designed some packages to make sure that if we get into that situation, we have multiple avenues that we can go."
With those injuries, the Kewpies have leaned heavily on running back Prince Collins in the final third of the year.
"He's been the same guy all season long, the guy obviously wants the ball in his hands all the time," Conyers said. "Thank goodness we have Prince Collins because he's been electric for us."
Heading into the first round of the playoffs, Conyers is expecting a physical game against the team that won the class six state title a year ago.
"It's going to be a fight in a phone booth. They're big, they're physical, they're fast, they're athletic. So for us, we're going to have to play some physical football defensively."
For Hickman, there's much more riding on this playoff game specifically. The Kewpies haven't won a district playoff game in more than a decade, and determined that this will be the season they break that streak.
"I took some time after practice and I talked to them about, whether they realize this or not, whether it's this week or several weeks down the road, this thing's nearing an end, and we don't have many opportunities left. We can't predict the future, so we got to make every second together count, and they got to do it for one and other."
Hickman will hope to advance past the opening round and take down the defending state champs on their own field. Kick off from Alumni stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30.
