It is the last time Quivira Heights High School will ever play Claflin in football. Next year, the two schools will be joined together forming a new high school in the area.
On Friday, a rivalry ended with Quivira Heights  beating Claflin  40-8 in a near shutout.
“It was a good win to get,” Quivira Heights head coach John Phelan said. “I am glad it was the first game of the year and get it done with and next year, we can bring them together, which I think will be good for them all.”
Claflin was kept off of the scoreboard until the final minutes of the fourth quarter, when quarterback Kevin Klug ran 14 yards for the Wildcats’ only touchdown of the night.
Claflin head coach Chris Steiner, who declined to comment on anything specific, said, “My players played their hearts out. They played as hard as they could.”
The Wildcats got the ball to start the game, and converted three first downs using their ground game. But  a holding penalty and a sack put them into a fourth-and-16 situation, forcing them to punt.
The Thunderbirds’ first possession had the two things that were prevalent for them the entire game: touchdowns and penalties.
“It felt like a first game,” John Phelan said. “We did some good things. We had way too many penalties, but I think it is a great place for us to start at.”
The T-Birds backtracked to a first-and-26 after a couple of holding penalties. Then quarterback Gunner Phelan gained 13 yards, followed by throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass to tight end Taylor Siemsen.
“I wanted to start the game with the ball on the ground,” the elder Phelan said, “(because) with the new kids I have up front, I wanted to put the ball on the ground and give them some basic things to do and just drive.
“Then we did a play-action off of that and the fullback was able to get loose down the field.”
After another penalty on their first attempt on a 2-point conversion, the Thunderbirds failed to convert when Gunner Phelan threw an incomplete pass.
After a three-and-out from both teams, the Wildcats began a drive at their own 36-yard-line with 15 yards to go because of a penalty.
Klug got the Wildcats started on the ground, rushing for five yards. Then the Wildcats gave the ball to running back Benn Kirmer, who carried the ball twice for 10 yards and putting the Wildcats at fourth-and-inches.
The Wildcats gave the ball to 5-foot-9, 209-pound fullback Dylan Prosser, who busted up the middle for three hard-earned yards and a first down.
The Wildcats got two more first downs before the Thunderbirds’ pass rush got to Klug twice forcing Claflin to punt.
After a Gunner Phelan-touchdown was called back on the next play because of an illegal block penalty, the Thunderbirds drove the ball to the goal line. And, on their third try, running back Nick Scheppman scored the T-Birds’ second touchdown.
“Nick Scheppman ran the ball well,” John Phelan said. “He had some cramp trouble late, and we didn’t get him in as much.”
The Wildcats began their next drive from their own 15-yard line. After a couple big plays including an 18-yard run by Kirmer, a 21-yard run by Klug and a pass interference penalty called against Quivira Heights, the Wildcats were on the Thunderbirds 9-yard line with first-and-goal.
After a couple of carries from Kirmer for only one yard, Claflin put the ball in the hands of Klug, who threw an interception to Gunner Phelan just outside the end zone.
Gunner Phelan threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Scheppman to score one more time before the first half ended with the Thunderbirds leading 20-0.
“I told Gunner, we want to run the ball and establish that somewhat and then open it up as we go,” John Phelan said.
After two drives each to start the third quarter, the Thunderbirds got the ball on the Wildcats’ 26-yard line. It took two plays for the Thunderbirds to reach the end zone, a 10-yard pass to receiver Lucas Bosquez and a 16-yard touchdown pass to Siemsen.
The Thunderbirds then converted for two points.
On their next drive, the Thunderbirds scored another touchdown on Gunner Phelan’s 4-yard pass to Scheppman.
The Wildcats started their only scoring drive on their own 25.
After Kirmer ran for five yards, a penalty gave the Wildcats the extra yardage they needed to get a first down. On first-and-10, Klug completed a 23-yard bomb to 6-foot-2 tight end Patrick Hubbard.
Two plays later, Klug rushed into the end zone to deny the Thunderbirds their shutout.
The Thunderbirds weren’t done though.
After a quick drive highlighted by Gunner Phelan’s 25-yard pass to Siemsen, the Thunderbirds made their last trip into the end zone. Mikal Trevino made this trip for the T-Birds on the ground, rushing for 15 yards.