To say Harrisonville’s defense was stifling in the MSHSAA Class 3 Show-Me Bowl would be an understatement. They held MICDS to just 32 yards of total offense, en rout to a 42-0 win over MICDS. The game was a polar opposite of last year’s state championship game between the two. In the 2004 game, Harrisonville blew a 35-10 lead in the second half and eventually lost 45-42 in double overtime.

Harrisonville head coach Fred Bouchard proved that he remembered that blown lead, when he called for an onside kick after his team went up 28-0 in the third quarter. The Wildcats recovered and scored four plays later on a Sean Ransburg touchdown run of 32 yards. With the extra point, Harrisonville went up 35-0, which started the running clock in the second half.

After stalling on their first possession, Harrisonville punter Brad Dunajcik booted the ball inside the one-yard line. MICDS soon punted and the Wildcats took over at the Rams’ 32. Quarterback Jason Thomas scored the game’s first touchdown on a 26-yard pass to Luke Gassman.

In the second period, the Wildcats went up 14-0, thanks to an MICDS fumble. MICDS running back Joey Zimring coughed up the ball and Harrisonville’s Zach Livingston pounced on it to give Harrisonville first and ten from the Rams’ 14 yard line. Two plays later, Thomas ran 11 yards for the game’s second touchdown.

Thomas finished with 102 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground, to go with his passing TD. The Wildcats were led in rushing by Jesse Larcum who went 113 yards on nine carries, scoring twice. But his spotlight didn’t shine until the second half.

Going into the locker room, Harrisonville led 14-0. In the third quarter, the defense again held MICDS to a three-and-out. On the ensuing drive, Larcum scored on a 57-yard run. With the extra point, Harrisonville opened up a 21-0 point lead.

Larcum wasn’t done, though. Later in the third quarter, he helped the Wildcats take a 28-0 lead with a 31-yard touchdown run which led to the onside kick.

When Harrisonville scored, they did so quickly on Saturday. Their seven touchdown drives required no more than four plays apiece and were no longer than 1:47.

The Wildcats, who were in their third straight trip to the Show-Me Bowl, won their second state title.