The Platte County Pirates’ football team is in the Class 5 Final Four after a drubbing of Webb City on the road Friday night, Nov. 22, 35-0.
The Pirates got the ball first and in its first possession showed the large crowd that had traveled from Platte City how the game would play out; with the Pirates controlled the clock and making big plays when it counted.
Facing a third and 15 from the Pirate 41 yard line Platte County junior quarterback Rocco Marriott found Lane Webb for a first down. Facing a fourth down and needing to pick up a yard to keep the drive alive at the Webb City 19 yard line Marriott called his own number and scored. The drive took 14 plays and chewed up more than half of the first quarter clock.
Senior Adam Gisler carried the ball nine times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
Webb City’s offense was able to move the ball into Pirate territory on its first drive but it ended with a turnover on downs by the defense. Marriott scored his second rushing touchdown on the Pirates’ next drive from four yards out. The drive included a 15-yard reception on third and eight that was an over the shoulder catch going out of bounds by Brayden Stevens.
Platte County’s defense went three and out on Webb City’s next possession that included a sack by Cale Buntz on third down.
The Pirates’ third possession ended with a 35-yard touchdown run by senior Adam Gisler. The drive included a 37-yard pass play to Stevens on second down and 20 yards to go for the first down.
Platte County got its first turnover when Darrell Smith recovered a Webb City fumble. However, the Pirates returned the favor at the Webb City 17 yard line after driving down the field. Platte County would take a 21-0 lead into halftime.
The Pirates would add two more touchdowns on a 33-yard run by Gisler and a 59-yard reception by Tres Baskerville.
Not wanting to face a shut out the Webb City offense drove into Platte County territory late in the game and used their timeouts to try and score. The Pirates’ defense was not having it.
“It’s hard to shut out anybody, especially a team like that with as well as they run their offense,’ Platte County Head Coach Bill Utz told The Citizen after the game. “They were able to get some big plays and our defense was able to get a few turnovers when it needed to down there in the red zone and be able to keep them off the board. It’s a big win for us.”
The Pirates will be at home this Saturday at 1 p.m. versus MICDS (St. Louis).
“I know they’re extremely well coached and they have some good players,” Utz said. “We’ll definitely have our hands full and look forward to the challenge.”
