OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The Missouri All-Stars sputtered and puttered on offense during Thursday night’s Metro All-Star Challenge.

Central High School’s two offensive participants weren’t the problem. Quarterback Owen Lenanader and running back Michael Hill accounted for 85 of Missouri’s 190 yards, most during the first half.

But Kansas took advantage of two first-half turnovers and built a 10-point halftime lead and held on for a 20-9 victory at Blue Valley Northwest High School in the exhibition presented by the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association.

“I didn’t care that we lost; I just had so much fun playing and making so many friends,” said Hill, who will play at Missouri Western next season.

Most of Missouri’s yardage came in mop-up time for Lee’s Summit quarterback Andrew Schnell, who threw for 146 yards on his way to MVP honors for the Missouri squad. But it was Lenander who was the starting quarterback, sort of.

Lenander stood on the sidelines for the first two plays while Blue Springs South coach Greg Oder used his running back Donte Strickland as a signal-caller. Lenander — headed to Fort Scott Community College — came in on third-and-6 and completed an 8-yarder for a first down.

He went on to complete all three of his first-half attempts and started 5 of 5. Lenander finished 6 of 9 for 42 yards.

“It was kind of hard to get into, just hard to get a rhythm,” Lenander said. “It was hard to get chemistry with receivers with only a week of practice.”

Hill, meanwhile, came in for the second series and accounted for 18 yards on a drive that stalled deep in Kansas territory.

Kansas scored on its ensuing drive with Kyson Ginavan (Olathe South) booting a 42-yard field goal 2 minutes, 57 seconds into the second quarter. Missouri’s ensuing drive ended when Kansas linebacker Nick Williams (Olathe Northwest) blindsided the left-handed Schnell and forced a fumble. Kansas’ Eric Coulter (Schlagle) picked it up and returned it 26 yards for a score and a 10-0 lead.

Hill nearly brought Missouri back.

On the second play of the next drive, Hill bounced off right tackle and went 28 yards around the corner. He appeared to have a shot at scoring but never broke into full stride.

The drive ended in Kansas territory on a Schnell interception.

“I tried to hit the hole,” said Hill, who ran for 43 yards on eight carries. “But those guys had good angles on me. I thought I was gone, but came up short.”

The Central duo spent much of the second half on the

sideline.

Missouri crept within 10-3 after turning a Patrick Lewis (Park Hill) interception into a 17-yard field goal with 7:03 left in the third. Missouri took possession at the Kansas’ 11, but Lenander’s 4-yard pass to Platte County’s Kyle Knox and second and 13 was the only offense.

Ginavan added his second field goal to put the lead back to 10. Ginavan — Kansas’ most valuable player, headed for Central Missouri next year — also had a 25-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to stretch Kansas’ lead to 20-3.

“I thought we played great,” Lenander said. “We just got pulled out in the third quarter and didn’t get back in until late.”

Central defensive back Jeremy Weston, also a Missouri Western recruit, played and recorded a pass defensed. North Platte’s Mitch Giger played on the offensive line in his last game before suiting up for the Griffons.

Platte County’s Knox finished with two catches for 11 yards.

At halftime, Central head football coach Tony Dudik took his time in the spotlight.

The Indians’ verteran mentor accepted the Dave Bassore Man of the Year award, named for the late coach who spent time at William Jewell University, University of Central Missouri, Center High School and Olathe North High School. The award is given to one head and one assistant coach in both Kansas and Missouri who coaches with the caring ideals Bassore used in his career.

Dudik called it a huge honor, especially to carry on the tradition of a coach he considered a friend as well as colleague. Dudik called Bassore the funniest coach he’s ever known.

“To receive an award in the spirit of what coaching is all about, means more than championships and anything else,” Dudik said. “Because that’s what we try to do every day is try to make kids better men, and we have a great vehicle in the sport of football to do that.”

Central senior Ben Pister, unable to play in the game because of a shoulder injury, was one of five finalists for the Ronald Warren Outstanding Linebacker Award, also presented at halftime. Excelsior Springs’ Chad Kilgore won the honor.