Platte County’s football team opened a new era with a similar result that many had become accustomed to over recent years.
Score after score. Forcing turnovers and defensive stands. Running clock. But the debut of a new identity.
After an offseason of turnover, Platte County opened its newest chapter under head coach Derek Yost with a 56-7 obliteration of Winnetonka on Aug. 28 at Pirate Stadium.
Entering the season with many uncertainties, particularly on the offensive side, Platte County provided an early glimpse of the type of team it will be. That type of team will consist of a capable defense and a physical, run-heavy offense with numerous threats.
“There’s never relief to it,” Yost said. “You get the 24-hour rule where you’re proud of them and proud to be doing this, but the work begins. This is the part now where we’ve got to get going in the grind.”
Derek Yost speaks to his Platte County football team after defeating Winnetonka in his first game as head coach.
The Pirates unexpectedly started sophomore quarterback Kade Fowler, and his influence remained critical throughout the contest. After coming up scoreless on Platte County’s opening drive, junior running back Caleb Hill got the Pirates several chunks of yardage before a 7-yard pass to sophomore receiver Owen Yates.
Finally, on first-and-goal from the 9-yard-line, Fowler carried it himself to the right to take a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. That only started what turned out to be a 35-point second quarter for Platte County.
Fowler struck again on the next drive, this time squeezing past a second-and-goal blitz for a 4-yard touchdown carry as the Pirates led 14-0.
Platte County’s defense was nearly immaculate, but they did allow a 74-yard touchdown reception, which cut the lead in half. However, the defense’s response to the letdown ensured Winnetonka would not find the end zone again.
Winnetonka’s following drive ended with a turnover on downs before Platte County’s second turnover of the night provided the team’s first defensive score of the season. Facing a third-and-14 from inside the 5-yard-line, Platte County brought pressure on the Winnetonka quarterback, and backed into his own end zone, had his pass tipped by junior lineman Greyson Reik, allowing senior lineman Brody Hawk to swiftly react to catch the pick-six.
Hawk led Platte County’s defensive effort, ending the night with eight tackles and a pair of sacks, in addition to his pick-six. Earlier in the second quarter, Hawk forced the first turnover of the game with a strip-sack, which was recovered by sophomore lineman Phin McMain and eventually translated into Fowler’s second touchdown of the night.
Platte County junior running back Caleb Hill ran for 129 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
On the offensive end, Hill was a dynamic threat every down he played, highlighted by a rushing touchdown and 150 total yards on 20 touches. His opening score of the season came on a dominant drive, opening with a 36-yard carry before another 19-yard run, finishing it off with a 1-yard burst through the middle.
“I saw a group that established identity,” Yost said of his offense. “Physical, really got after it. The run game looked great. We were able to open some stuff up in the passing game. Thrilled with how they looked tonight.”
Hill’s score made it 21-7 before Hawk’s defensive score put the hosts ahead 28-7. Fowler showed off his arm with a 57-yard bomb to Jude Brown as Platte County took a 35-7 lead before halftime.
Platte County’s offense did more damage in the second half, starting when Yates scored on a 5-yard run after catching a pitch on a motion play. After a blocked punt by Jack Johnson, junior running back Brady McDaniel announced his presence with a 4-yard touchdown run through the middle as Platte County led 49-7 in the third quarter.
With a running clock, junior quarterback Paxton Bennett got some action on the field in the fourth quarter. Senior running back Devin Smith set the Pirates up at the 1-yard-line after a 47-yard carry, which Bennett ran in despite a fumbled handoff attempt.
With the victory, the Pirates’ winning streak now stretches to a state-leading 29 games. More importantly, it was a defiant statement that Platte County is still among Missouri’s most elite programs.
“Everyone’s expecting that with all the starters gone, all the DI athletes leaving, saying ‘Platte County is Platte County.’ We’re Platte County,” McDaniel vehemently exclaimed. “We came back, new season, 56-7, and we crushed them. It’s exciting.”
Junior running back Brady McDaniel runs through contact against Winnetonka on Aug. 28.
The win meant a lot to everyone in the program, with so many coaches and players now in different roles than previously. In addition to the players’ accomplishments, it was Yost’s first win since being promoted to head coach, longtime assistant Blake Seifert’s first win as offensive coordinator and David Diener’s first win since joining the program as defensive coordinator.
“A lot of people have been waiting their turn. We’ve been behind all these DI athletes, and we’ve been learning from them and worked really hard during the offseason,” McDaniel said. “Now we’re this. This is what happened.”
Fowler was a perfect 7-for-7 passing for 95 yards with two touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns on three carries for 17 yards.
“It’s such a great place to be able to coach and work with some great athletes,” Yost said. “Tremendously proud of these young men. They did everything right tonight, and we trusted that they were going to do it. They executed, so really proud of them in all three phases tonight.”
Next up for Platte County is perhaps their toughest regular-season challenge of the year, when they visit a Blue Springs South team that lost their season-opener to Lee’s Summit. Blue Springs South went undefeated in the regular season last year before losing to Blue Springs in the Class 6 District 6 semifinal.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” Yost said. “It should be a really good test for our guys. We’re excited to go down there and go on the road a little bit.”