West Platte football cruised to its first victory of the season in front of its home fans, defeating Crest Ridge/Chilhowee 54-20 on Sept. 5.
The Blue Jays raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Mark Sanders threw for 190 yards with three passing touchdowns and a rushing score while Blaze Masoner had 136 receiving yards with two touchdowns and Alex Kinslow had 94 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
“We talked all week about the focus and doing your job and finishing every piece of it,” West Platte head coach Taylor Gallagher told the MOKSsports.com broadcast. “We kept the game plan super-simple, both offensively and defensively; challenged them to play fast and play hard. That’s what they did.”
The run game got West Platte going early as Brady McMillan ran up the middle for a 64-yard rushing touchdown. The Blue Jays followed that early score up with a 10-yard touchdown run from Joe Blake, assisted by a pitch from Jhett Chandler on an option play to the left, before Chandler ran his own touchdown in from 29 yards out on a quarterback-keeper.
Crest Ridge got on the board towards the end of the first quarter as they took their time moving down the field 80 yards throughout a five-minute drive before running it in on third down from one yard out. West Platte managed to tip the extra point attempt wide left, giving the hosts a 21-6 lead after the first quarter.
West Platte piled on more points in the second quarter, beginning with a Canton Wilkins 3-yard carry to the left. Sanders and the West Platte offense showed off their explosive capabilities the rest of the half, tossing touchdowns to Masoner for a 62-yard score, Alex Kinslow for 82 yards and Masoner again for 41 yards as West Platte took a 47-6 lead into halftime.
Crest Ridge found the end zone for the second time in the third quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass, but West Platte responded when Sanders danced his way 40 yards into the end zone. Crest Ridge had one final score from a 24-yard passing touchdown.
West Platte is back home on Sept. 12 for a conference rivalry matchup against Penney. West Platte won last year’s regular-season matchup, but Penney ended the Blue Jays’ season in the district semifinals.
“It’s going to take everything we’ve got and maybe a little bit more,” Gallagher said. “I know the kids are excited for it. They’re coming to our house, so we’re going to have to get up for it because it’s going to be another brawl like it always is.”