WESTON, Mo. — West Platte didn’t come away with the desired result, but the Bluejays have plans to continue pushing toward the postseason with the right attitude.
Mid-Buchanan quarterback Javan Noyes accounted for his third touchdown on a 7-yard run with 8½ minutes left in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead score in the previously winless Dragons’ 19-17 win Friday, Sept. 29 at Rudolph Eskridge Stadium. West Platte’s final two possessions ended with turnovers, including a late interception in Mid-Buchanan territory.
NICK INGRAM/Citizen photo
West Platte senior Cole Whalen (50) drags down a Mid-Buchanan ball carrier Friday, Sept. 29 at Rudolph Eskridge Stadium in Weston, Mo.
The loss kept West Platte (1-6) winless in KCI Conference play and dealt the Bluejays another blow in the Class 1 District 7 standings.
“We’re just going to have to keep working,” West Platte coach Paul Thomas said. “That’s the only way I know to do it is keep working, and they’ve got to start believing they can win so that’s the biggest thing.”
The lead changed hands four times during a quick second half.
Gavin Davis’ 37-yard field goal early in the third quarter put West Platte back ahead 10-7, but Mid-Buchanan answered with a long drive, ending in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Noyes to Matthew McDonald. The 13-10 lead after a failed extra point lasted only seconds after West Platte senior Brayan Rodriguez returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-13.
West Platte would only hold possession twice more, and the Bluejays were behind at those points after allowing the go-ahead touchdown.
“They played hard,” Thomas said. “The other team played hard and outperformed us. We only had three possessions that half so you have to score when you have the possession, and we didn’t score but that’s part of it.”
Davis led all ball carriers with 105 yards on 20 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to give West Platte its first lead at 7-0. Noyes, who finished with 81 yards rushing, answered with his first touchdown pass to send the game into halftime tied 7-7.
While Mid-Buchanan completed 16 of 21 pass attempts, West Platte junior Noah Johnson went 4-for-12 for 46 yards — the longest completion a 21-yarder to senior wide receiver Grant Eagen. The Bluejays rushed for 173 yards total with Rodriguez adding 45 on nine carries.
West Platte has dropped six straight entering a Friday, Oct. 6 KCI game at Plattsburg in another matchup of District 7 foes. The Bluejays close the regular season against Class 2 Lawson and will be looking to avoid a second straight winless season in conference play during the next two weeks.
Despite the loss, West Platte stood at No. 6 in the most recent Class 1 District 7 standings with Mid-Buchanan stuck at No. 8. Should Mid-Buchanan end up one spot behind West Platte, the Dragons would jump the Bluejays in the district standings based on the head-to-head result.
Currently, Orrick (2-5) is at No. 7.