By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights football coach Jason Swift had a couple of primary goals in mind entering Friday night's United Kansas Conference game against Turner.
First and foremost the T-Birds wanted to win, clinch a .500 regular season and continue to build momentum for the Class 5A playoffs, goals the T-Birds took care of when they went in front 21-0 in the opening four minutes.
And on Homecoming night at Wetter Field, Swift and his coaching staff also wanted to give as many T-Birds as possible the opportunity to get a chance to share in what became a 60-0 runaway win.
"Football's a great sport because it's a team win,'' Swift said. "We always say that it doesn't matter if you play scout team, one play or every play you have an equal value in our program, so seniors, juniors, sophomores they all took a lot of pride in this and let's get everyone on the field and let's throw a shutout, too.
"I think those were the two things we wanted to do and we accomplished them.''
Shawnee Heights senior Jarin Sanders (4) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring one of his three touchdowns in Friday's 60-0 win over Turner. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With Friday's win Shawnee Heights is expecting to host Sumner Academy in a first-round 5A playoff game next Friday night. Playoff pairings will be announced by the Kansas State High School Activities Association late Friday or early Saturday.
Shawnee Heights, which won for the fourth time over its past five games, put the 1-7 Bears away with 21 points in the first 3:27 of the contest and Heights took a huge 47-0 advantage to the locker room at the half, forcing a running clock through the entire second half.
And as far as sharing the wealth, Heights' sideline looked like a revolving door.
Swift alternated senior quarterbacks Callan Carver, Braeden Brown and Raiden McGrew, and all three had a hand in building the T-Birds' big cushion.
Carver ran for one touchdown and threw for two TDs in his limited duty while Brown and McGrew both passed for scores.
Sanders, the T-Birds' standout senior running back, rushed for 94 yards on 12 attempts and scored three touchdowns -- 24 and 4-yard runs and an 11-yard reception from Carver.
Heights senior Ayden McDaniel also scored three touchdowns, scoring on runs of 27 and 15 yards and catching a 40-yard TD from McGrew. He finished the game with 89 rushing yards on just six carries.
Shawnee Heights senior Carter Olson stretches out to catch a pass in Friday's 60-0 win over Turner. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Braedon Ginter caught a 17-yard TD pass from Brown while senior Carter Olson caught a 5-yard TD pass from Carver.
In addition to using three quarterbacks the T-Birds also used three place-kickers on extra points, with senior Jaxon Correll, junior Carson Christian and junior Pablo Gonzalez combining for six PATs.
It all added up to a fun night for the T-Birds.
"Man, it was a lot of fun,'' Sanders said. "The crowd was great, there were a lot of people out here, and it was good to see all the young guys get an opportunity because they show up to everything.
"They don't miss anything and they don't get the same opportunities that the varsity does, so it was good to see them out here.''
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 60, KC-TURNER 0
Turner (1-7) 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Shawnee Heights (4-4) 21 26 13 0 -- 60
First quarter
Shawnee Heights -- Jarin Sanders 24 run (Jaxon Correll kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Callan Carver 1 run (Jaxon Correll kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Ayden McDaniel 27 run (Jaxon Correll kick)
Second quarter
Shawnee Heights -- Jarin Sanders 11 pass from Callan Carver (kick failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Ayden McDaniel 40 pass from Raiden McGrew (kick failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Braedon Ginter 17 pass from Braeden Brown (Carson Christian kick)
Shawnee Heights -- Carter Olson 5 pass from Callan Carver (Pablo Gonzalez kick)
Third quarter
Shawnee Heights -- Jarin Sanders 4 run (kick failed)
Shawnee Heights -- Ayden McDaniel 15 run (Pablo Gonzalez kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Turner: Ty Cole 11-16, Brett Langley 1-9, David Taylor 1-(minus)-2, Matt Jimenez 2-(minus)-17. Shawnee Heights: Jarin Sanders 12-94, Ayden McDaniel 6-89, Callan Carver 3-21, Braeden Brown 1-14, Raiden McGrew 1-14, Team 4-(minus)-4.
Passing -- Turner: Matt Jimenez 13-39-2, 77 yards. Shawnee Heights: Braeden Brown 6-7-0, 67; Callan Carver 3-5-0, 34; Raiden McGrew 1-3-0, 40.
Receiving -- Turner: David Taylor 5-26, Ty Cole 4-26, Brett Langley 3-22, Dyan Mezger 1-3. Shawnee Heights: Carter Olson 2-37, Jason Busenitz 2-18, Jacob Malcom 2-15, Jarin Sanders 2-14, Bradeon Ginter 1-17, Ayden McDaniel 1-40.
Punting -- Turner: Matt Jimenez 6-24.3. Shawnee Heights: Braeden Brown 1-17.0.
