West Platte was outscored 21-7 in the final 24 minutes, 18 seconds of last Friday’s Class 2 District 8 quarterfinal. But the No. 3-seeded Blue Jays had already done plenty of damage earlier to run away with the 63-21 victory.
It became apparent less than three minutes into the contest on Oct. 30 that West Platte would cruise to victory. By the end of the first quarter, the Blue Jays led 42-0, then 56-0 in the second quarter before No. 7-seeded Trenton got on the board.
“I don’t think you ever expect to come out and be in the position we were in early in the game,” West Platte head coach Taylor Gallagher said. “They made a couple mistakes that we took advantage of in the beginning of the game.”
The only thing that could keep West Platte from advancing in its Class 2 postseason debut was the weather. After the Blue Jays won the coin flip, lightning moved in, forcing a nearly two-hour delay.
“I’m happy with the way the kids came out and played considering the three weather delays we had before we even kicked off,” Gallagher said, praising the team’s facility and his team’s attitude. “They did a nice job just kind of weathering the storm.”
Once the clock hit 8:57 p.m., Trenton struggled to cope with West Platte’s opportunistic play.
Senior quarterback Mark Sanders on his 37-yard touchdown run on West Platte’s opening drive against Trenton on Oct. 30.
The Blue Jays, electing to receive the opening kick, faced an early scare from kickoff, but sophomore Reid Conrad managed to recover Trenton’s onside kick. Four plays later, West Platte led 7-0 when senior quarterback Mark Sanders scored on a 37-yard touchdown run.
West Platte suffocated Trenton’s offense from the start. After forcing a quick three-and-out, senior returner Blaze Masoner showed his speed and strength by returning a punt for a touchdown, winning a goal-line duel to break the pylon.
In less than three minutes of game time, West Platte had already established a two-touchdown lead. But it only got worse for Trenton.
The Bulldogs’ special teams allowed another score on the following drive. After another three-and-out, a punt attempt turned catastrophic when it was snapped over the punter’s head and eventually blocked before West Platte freshman Jack Parker recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown.
West Platte’s offense eventually returned to the field for its second drive with a 21-0 cushion. Senior running back Brady McMillan opened the drive with a 52-yard first-down carry, then finished it off with an 8-yard touchdown run to the right with 2:53 left in the first.
Sanders opened up West Platte’s passing offense on the Blue Jays’ next drive. He completed back-to-back passes to senior receiver Carter Conrad before a 16-yard connection with Cuin Vincent, then Conrad capped it off with a 16-yard touchdown reception as they led 35-0.
Just as Trenton hoped to get its offense into a rhythm and moved the chains for the first time, they gave West Platte another score. Pressure from junior defensive end Isaiah Quintero forced an errant first-down pass that sophomore defensive back James Lyberger intercepted and returned for a pick-six as the Blue Jays led 42-0 after 12 minutes of play.
Trenton’s punting woes continued in the second quarter when a low snap was fumbled, then recovered by West Platte senior Cooper Schwermer. The Blue Jay offense cashed in on the short-yardage situation, using a 20-yard run from Sanders and a 6-yard run from Quintero to put the hosts ahead 49-0.
“We feel like we have the ability to score points,” Gallagher said. “We were able to get big plays defensively and on special teams, which helped with the scoreboard output.”
A turnover on downs returned the ball to West Platte on Trenton’s 42-yard line. Again, West Platte took its opportunity, this time with sophomore quarterback Reid Conrad leading the Blue Jays’ longest timed drive of the night.
Senior lineman Xander Shroyer spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown against Trenton.
Reid Conrad converted a third-and-16 play with a 21-yard run to bring the Blue Jays inside the red zone. Sophomore running back Oliver Schwartz had his name called for the next few plays to get the ball to the goal line before senior lineman Xander Shroyer scored on a second-down run to stretch West Platte’s lead to 56-0 with 1:23 remaining in the second quarter.
Trenton ended West Platte’s first-half shutout on an inconspicuous second-down play, which featured senior receiver Jacob White. The 5-foot-6, 120-pound receiver got loose for a 78-yard touchdown reception to make it 56-8 before halftime.
The visitors cut into the deficit again with their opening drive of the second half, which included two fourth-down conversions. White capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown reception to make it 56-15.
Sophomore kicker Macklin Bolling went a perfect 9-for-9 on field goal attempts against Trenton.
West Platte turned to Schwartz and junior receiver Dalton Burns for an answer. Schwartz rushed for 22 yards from two run plays before Burns made it 63-15 with a 28-yard rushing score to the right.
Trenton capped the game with one final score on a 70-yard drive. Junior running back Gabriel Makovec led the drive on the ground and finished it off with a score from 2 yards out, but Schwartz blocked the point-after try as West Platte confirmed its 63-21 victory.
“It was a good night,” Gallagher said. “Happy for our seniors to get a win here one last time before we move on, and probably don’t get the chance to play here again.”
West Platte advances to the district semifinals Nov. 6, when they visit No. 2-seeded Brookfield (7-2). MSHSAA records, which date back as far as 2005, indicate no previous meetings between the two programs.
The Blue Jays now stand 8-2 on the season, riding a three-game winning streak. Both teams handled Trenton and Maysville with ease earlier this season.
“I think it’s going to be physical,” Gallagher said. “They have some explosive players. I anticipate them giving us a lot of different looks and making us chase them around. It should be fun.”
The winner of the matchup will take on top-seeded Mid-Buchanan (9-0) or No. 5 Lawson (7-3) in the district championship on Nov. 13.