Denny Hamlin (11) crossed the start-finish line on the final restart at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Denny Hamlin won Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at the Kansas Speedway, fending off Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch in a single-lap restart, needed after a wreck on a previous restart.
After the race, Hamlin credited crew chief Chris Gabeheart for making adjustments to give him a “dominant car” in the second half of the race. Hamlin overtook Martin Truex Jr. shortly after the end of the race’s second stage in lap 160.
Hamlin also credited Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch with a well-timed push on the restart that positioned him to get out in front of the field and protect his lead.
Chase Elliott finished second, earning just enough points to edge Brad Keselowski for the final spot to advance in the NASCAR playoffs. Kyle Busch finished third.
Denny Hamlin hoisted the trophy after winning the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Denny Hamlin’s crew celebrated by dousing his car in victory lane. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Denny Hamlin’s crew celebrated in the pits as their driver crossed the finish line. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Racing team owner and pro football hall of fame coach Joe Gibbs congratulated Hamlin’s crew after the win. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Country artist Casey Donahew performed a concert before the race. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Martin Truex Jr. went through some last-minute checks before the race. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Parker Kligerman (96) raced in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Joey Logano (22) kept the outside lane against Clint Bowyer (14) in turn 2. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
William Byron (24), Daniel Hemric (8) and Reed Sorenson (77) raced three wide out of turn 4. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Lugnuts flew as Alex Bowman’s pit crew sprang into action. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
A B-2 bomber, the Spirit of Washington, flew over before the start of the race. (Copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Schlagle senior quarterback Joshua Becton scored the winning touchdown in the second overtime series of Schlagle’s 12-6 win over Harmon. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
A defensive struggle turned into a double-overtime thriller when the Harmon Hawks visited Schlagle High School on Friday evening. The Stallions scored a touchdown in the second overtime series to win the game 12-6.
The first period of the game was scoreless. Both teams led long drives that stalled in their opponent’s territory.
Harmon got on the board in the second quarter, capping a drive with a 4-yard run up the middle from senior Terrence Johnson. Johnson powered the Hawks’ offense all night on quarterback keepers.
Schlagle looked like it might tie the game at the end of the second quarter. Running back Jaylin Richardson switched to quarterback, and the Stallions started to gain consistently long yardage on sweep plays. However, Richardson was ejected for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the drive stalled deep in Harmon territory.
The third quarter was another defensive grind, with neither team able to capitalize, even with good field position.
Schlagle quarterback Joshua Becton picked up the Stallions’ only regulation score on an 81-yard touchdown run with 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Becton cut back around the left side and found room to accelerate away from the Hawks’ defense.
Harmon thought it had gone ahead late in the fourth on an end run by Michael Reed. The play was called back for offensive holding, and in a remarkable sequence of penalties and sacks, Harmon went from a game-winning touchdown to deep in its own territory facing fourth down and 40 yards to go.
As the clock wound down, both teams went to the air to try to make a winning play. The gambles failed to pay off, and both defensive squads held firm with interceptions. A Schlagle drive and near-touchdown with 3 minutes remaining were snuffed out by a fumble, recovered by Harmon’s Shannon Robinson in the end zone.
In the first overtime series, Schlagle fumbled away its possession, and Harmon was held out of the end zone on downs.
In the second series, Harmon led off, but was intercepted in the end zone by linebacker Jermaine Hicks. Schlagle scored on the very next play on a run around the left side by Becton to take the victory.
The win takes Schlagle to 3-1 for the season (2-1 in the Kansas City-Atchison League). They’ll play an away game against Sumner Academy next Friday. Harmon drops to 2-2 (0-2 KCAL). The Hawks will play host to the Lansing Lions next Friday. Both games start at 7 p.m.
Harmon senior quarterback Terrence Johnson made a run up the middle near the end zone. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Schlagle junior receiver Elija Taylor cut back against a Harmon defender. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Harmon senior Shannon Robinson recovered a fumble in the end zone. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Schlagle senior defensive back Jordan Scruggs intercepted a Harmon pass in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Schlagle freshman linebacker Jermaine Hicks intercepted the ball in the end zone to stop Harmon’s second overtime drive. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)The Schlagle Marching Stallions performed at halftime. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)The Schlagle Marching Stallions performed at halftime. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Joshua Becton ran away from the defense for a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Harmon senior lineman Salvador Aleman brought down Joshua Becton. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Harmon senior quarterback Terrence Johnson (7) scored a Harmon touchdown. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Terrence Johnson, on defense, tipped away a pass from his counterpart Joshua Becton. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Harmon senior receiver Abdullahi Abdulle caught a swing pass. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Harmon junior Michael Reed returned a kickoff. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Schlagle senior Exavier Taylor cut through a gap in the line. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)Schlagle senior running back Jaylin Richardson was tackled near the sideline. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Daniel Salloi scored his first goal of the season on a shot in the 46th minute of Sporting Kansas City’s match against the Portland Timbers. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Sporting Kansas City capped an unsatisfying home schedule with an unsatisfying result, playing Portland to a 2-2 draw Sunday evening at Children’s Mercy Park.
Against the lofty expectations of previous years when Kansas City has enjoyed a daunting home field advantage, in 2019 they posted only seven home wins, against six losses and four draws.
On Sunday night, the visitors scored first, in the 29th minute. Portland forward Sebastian Blanco curled the ball past goalkeeper Tim Melia off a rebounding block from Ilie Sanchez, who started the match at center back instead of his usual midfield post.
Krisztian Nemeth leveled the score almost immediately, heading in a cross from Johnny Russell for his eighth MLS goal of the year, but only the first since May 18th against Vancouver.
In the 36th minute, each squad was reduced by one when KC midfielder Roger Espinoza and Portland forward Brian Fernandez were both sent off after a combative exchange.
Immediately after the half, Daniel Salloi created one of the bright spots of the game. Salloi posted his first goal of the season, and gave his team a 2-1 lead, by cleaning up the rebound of a Gianluca Busio shot off the goalpost. Salloi was Sporting’s leading scorer a year ago, but has been frustrated by poor shooting and poor luck through the season.
In the 84th minute, Ilie brought down Portland forward Jeremy Ebobisse in the penalty area. The foul earned Ilie a red card, and earned Portland a penalty kick, which was knocked in by Dairon Asprilla. Melia had saved all three previous penalties he faced this year, but dove to his right as Asprilla’s shot sailed the other direction.
Down a man, Kansas City held on defensively through the end of the match, but was unable to mount an effective attack after Ilie’s ejection.
Sporting Kansas City has one more match in the 2019 season, next Sunday at 3 p.m. at FC Dallas.
Participants in the Sporting Stripes program played on the field during halftime. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Erik Hurtado collected a pass near the Portland goal. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Botond Barath headed the ball off a corner kick. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Krisztian Nemeth headed the ball on goal. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Gianluca Busio brought a lot of joy by tossing his boots into the stands after the match. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Krisztian Nemeth celebrated after scoring his goal in the first half. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Johnny Russell settled a pass before driving the ball in from the right. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Johnny Russell autographed a ball for Victory Project honoree Reece Baker. The Victory Project is a collaboration of Sporting KC and Children’s Mercy Hospital that supports children with multiple cancer diagnoses. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Graham Zusi crossed the ball from the right side. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Girl Scout Day at Children’s Mercy Park had some lucky scouts in the Sporting KC bench before the game. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark plucked the ball away from an attacking run by Krisztian Nemeth. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)
