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Missouri’s defense didn’t hold anything back.

In an effort to end the two-game losing skid in the series, Missouri’s defense, led by Liberty High defensive coach Brian Van Hauen, put pressure on Kansas all night long in the GKCFCA Metro Classic on Thursday, June 18.

“We blitzed every down except for the last down of the first half,” Van Hauen said. “We sent somebody every single down.”

Missouri’s all-out assault paid dividends in a 10-7 victory at Blue Springs South High School. The Kansas all-stars only score came on a 79-yard touchdown run by Bonner Springs’ Jeremy Walker midway through the fourth quarter.

“We really got to the quarterback,” Van Hauen said. “We only gave up one long play.”

For the first time, Van Hauen called defensive plays from the press box. When Van Hauen served as Liberty’s defensive coordinator, he made his calls down on the field. Andy Sims took over the defensive coordinator position last year and made decisions from up high. Van Hauen relayed Sims’ calls to the players on the field.

“Andy swears by it,” Van Hauen said. “That’s where it’s at. It’s a different feeling. It’s almost like playing a video game. You do see everything so much clearer. You see personnel changes a lot quicker.

“I did like it. If I every coordinate again, and have a guy on the sideline that I can trust to get the calls right, I might try it.”

On the other side of the ball, Liberty’s Scott Buffa played the majority of the time at tight end for the Missouri squad.

“It was a great honor,” Buffa said. “It’s something I set a goal for. I didn’t think I would get it because I didn’t have a great individual season. We had a great team year.

“It meant a lot to get a win and get it on our home field. I still had a little bit of high school football in me and it was nice to get it out this last game.”

Buffa, who will play collegiately at Coe College in Iowa next fall, caught one pass for nine yards late in the third quarter.

“I wasn’t too upset,” Buffa said. “They tried to get it to me a couple of times. It happens. I’m just glad we won. It’s no big deal as long we get the ‘W’”.

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