Platte County could’ve endured a difficult rebuilding year, but the senior class instead found a way to carry on tradition.
The Missouri media selected eight players from the Pirates — all of them seniors — to the Class 4 all-state team, released last week. Tanner Clarkson, John Watts, Devin Richardson, Parker Lacina, Michael Smith, Dakota Schmidt, Kobe Cummings and JP Post were the stars honored after leading a historic program-first run to the Class 4 semifinals.
Platte County senior quarterback Tanner Clarkson
Clarkson, Watts, Richardson, Lacina, Smith and Schmidt were all first-team selections. Only Lacina — a second-team kicker last year — was a repeat selection.
Platte County finished 11-3 with losses to Class 5 state champion Staley in the regular season and eventual Class 4 state champion Webb City in a memorable playoff semifinal. The Pirates were ranked No. 3 in the final Class 4 media poll after advancing to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
Clarkson, a 6-foot-3 senior, entered his senior season 11 of 16 passing for 104 yards in four spot appearances at quarterback over the previous two years. He opened with a school-record six touchdown passes in one game — on just 10 total completions — in a 45-6 season-opening blowout of Grandview.
Three of those scoring passes went to Richardson, who entered his senior season with just one career catch, and the passing game’s momentum never stopped.
Clarkson finished with single-season school records of 3,382 yards and 38 touchdowns, while completing more than 61 percent of his passes. He threw for 200 or more yards in nine of 14 games and more than 300 five times, including a season-best 437 in an overtime loss to Kearney that closed the regular season.
The 39 career touchdown passes rank Clarkson fourth in Platte County history, while his 3,492 career passing yards is fifth — the majority accrued in just one season.
Platte County senior wide receiver John Watts
Watts — a 6-foot-4 second-year starter — finished with 63 receptions for 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming just the fourth player in program history to reach 1,000 yards in a season. He posted season-highs of nine catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Staley.
Setting career-highs in all categories, Watts finished sixth on Platte County’s career list for receptions (103), fourth for yards (1,803) and fifth for touchdown catches (20).
The extra attention paid to Watts, specifically after his outburst against Staley, created room for Richardson, who led Platte County this season in receptions (64), yards (1,079) and touchdown catches (16). He recorded at least one touchdown in 11 of 13 games played — missing a win over Harrisonville early in the season.
Richardson tied Jim Myers’ single-season school record for touchdown catches in a single season set in 1968 and preceded Watts as the third 1,000-yard receiver in program history. His single-season total of 1,079 ranks third all-time for the Pirates.
Platte County senior wide receiver Devin Richardson
Lacina set numerous records, finishing as one of the most prolific kickers in state history.
Platte County senior kicker Parker Lacina
A four-year starter, Lacina finished with the most total points for a kicker in school history with 292 — a total that ranks only behind legendary running backs Zach Sherman (346) and R.B. Miller (319). The 99 points for Lacina in his senior season was the best total for a kicker and tied for the 11th best scoring season ever for the Pirates.
Lacina finishes with Platte County records for kickoff average (50.72) and punting average (36.99), as well as most field goals (39) and longest field goal (53 yards set in 2015). He ranks second for career extra points at 175 (Nick Jaros, 193 from 1999 to 2002) and most extra points in a season at 63 (Nick Jaros, 72 in 2000).
The 39 total field goals out distance the previous Missouri career record of 28 Taylor Middlebrooks set from 2011 to 2014. It shattered Tanner Jermain’s previous Platte County school record of 16.
While the offense piled up more than 36 points per game and scored more than 40 eight times, Platte County’s defense excelled behind an increasingly strong front seven. The Pirates allowed just 66 points in five postseason games, including a 38-0 shutout against Lafayette in the Class 4 District 8 title game.
Citizen file photo
Platte County seniors Kobe Cummings (7), Dakota Schmidt (28) and Michael Smith (5) combine to stop Staley quarterback John Raybourn in a game this past season..
Michael Smith led the effort with a school-record 17½ sacks from his defensive end spot.
Named the Bobby Bell Award winner as the best lineman/linebacker from a small school in the Kansas City metro area, Smith had at least one sack in 12 of 14 games after entering the season with just five in his first two years as a contributor. He also ranked fifth for the Pirates in total tackles with 62 (11 for loss) and forced a pair of fumbles.
Coaches credited Smith with 20 quarterback hurries in his breakout season.
While Smith made a lot of flashy pays, Schmidt remained the steady presence as a third-year starter at middle linebacker. He finished his career as Platte County’s all-time leader in tackles (503), setting a career high with 131 (12 for loss), while adding two sacks, two fumble recoveries and two blocked punts — both returned for touchdowns — as a senior.
Schmidt blocked, scooped up and returned a punt in the second quarter for a key score in a comeback 44-28 win over Belton — his third defensive/special teams TD of his career.
Platte County senior linebacker Kobe Cummings
Cummings made the second team at linebacker as a versatile defender moved up in the formation after playing mostly defensive back his first two years as a starter. Injuries limited Cummings to 12 games, but he finished second on the team in tackles with 91 — a team-high 13 for loss — 7½ sacks, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and one interception.
Always a standout athlete, Cummings also served as the preferred option on punt and kick returns, totaling more than 400 yards on special teams, while also contributing more than 200 yards of offense and a rushing and receiving touchdown.
Post joined Cummings on the second team.
Thrust into a starting cornerback role midway through his sophomore season, Post never left the lineup and served as the most consistent piece of Platte County’s secondary this season. He grabbed three interceptions and made 35 tackles despite spending most of the season dealing with a shoulder injury after he blocked an extra point in the loss to Staley.
Platte County senior defensive back JP Post
Post finished his career with seven interceptions, three blocked kicks and two defensive/special teams TDs.
Seven of the eight Platte County players on the media all-state team also made the Missouri Football Coaches Association’s lists released earlier in the month. Clarkson, Watts, Schmidt, Smith and Lacina were all first-team picks, while Richardson and Cummings were on the third team.
Schmidt was a third-team MFCA all-state pick at linebacker as a junior.
North Platte senior Remington Wilson made the MFCA Class 1 list as a third-team linebacker. A three-year starter, he posted and team-best 120 tackles (seven for loss) this season to go with four forced fumbles and two sacks in the Panthers’ 2-8 season.
Wilson also led them in rushing with 695 yards and six touchdowns as the top running back.
For his career, Wilson finished with 980 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns and 387 tackles (11 for loss), five sacks, four forced fumbles and three recovered fumbles. He had 151 tackles as a sophomore when North Platte advanced to the Class 1 District 7 title game.
North Platte senior Remington Wilson
FOOTBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
MISSOURI MEDIA ALL-STATE
Class 6
First team
WR — Ronnie Bell, sr., Park Hill; LB — Brighton Ramirez, sr., Park Hill; DB — Devin Haney, sr., Park Hill
Second team
QB — Billy Maples, sr., Park Hill; RB — Dorian Clayton, sr., Park Hill
Class 5
First team
OL — Ben Becker, sr., Park Hill South
Class 4
First team
QB — Tanner Clarkson, sr., Platte County; WR — John Watts, sr., Platte County; Devin Richardson, sr., Platte County; DL — Michael Smith, sr., Platte County; LB — Dakota Schmidt, sr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, sr., Platte County
Second team
LB — Kobe Cummings, sr., Platte County; DB — JP Post, sr., Platte County
Class 1
First team
P — Gavin Davis, jr., West Platte
MISSOURI FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE
Class 6
First team
QB — Billy Maples, sr., Park Hill; WR — Ronnie Bell, sr., Park Hill; LB — Brighton Ramirez, sr., Park Hill
Second team
RB — Dorian Clayton, sr., Park Hill; DB — Devin Haney, sr., Park Hill
Class 5
First team
OL — Ben Becker, sr., Park Hill South
Class 4
First team
QB — Tanner Clarkson, sr., Platte County; WR — John Watts, sr., Platte County; DL — Michael Smith, sr., Platte County; LB — Dakota Schmidt, sr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, sr., Platte County
Third team
WR — Devin Richardson, sr., Platte County; LB — Kobe Cummings, sr., Platte County
Class 1
Third team
LB — Remington Wilson, sr., North Platte
MFCA ALL-DISTRICT
Class 6 District 4
QB — Billy Maples, sr., Park Hill; WR — Ronnie Bell, sr., Park Hill; RB — Dorian Clayton, sr., Park Hill; OL — Cory Reiter, jr., Park Hill; DL — Ethan Smith, jr., Park Hill; LB — Brighton Ramirez, sr., Park Hill; Haden Wallace, jr., Park Hill; Jarrett Ross, sr., Park Hill; DB — Devin Haney, sr., Park Hill; K — Davin Dorrell, sr., Park Hill
Class 5 District 7
RB — Ta’Von Tusa, jr., Park Hill South; OL — Ben Becker, sr., Park Hill South; DL — Etinosa Reuben, jr., Park Hill South; LB — Connor Campbell, sr., Park Hill South; Sam Beuerlein, jr., Park Hill South; DB — Payton Murray, jr., Park Hill South
Class 4 District 8
QB — Tanner Clarkson, sr., Platte County; WR — John Watts, sr., Platte County; Devin Richardson, sr., Platte County; Dylan Gilbert, jr., Platte County; OL — Matt Blaha, sr., Platte County; Reid Sutter, jr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, sr., Platte County; DL — Michael Smith, sr., Platte County; Chase Blankenship, sr., Platte County; LB — Dakota Schmidt, sr., Platte County; Kobe Cummings, sr., Platte County; DB — JP Post, sr., Platte County; Hunter Tongate, sr., Platte County
Class 1 District 7
RB — Gavin Davis, jr., West Platte; TE — Austin Snook, sr., North Platte; Grant Eagen, sr., West Platte; OL — Bart Owens, sr., North Platte; DL — Cole Whalen, sr., West Platte; Dylan Lock, sr., West Platte; LB — Remington Wilson, sr., North Platte; Brayan Rodriguez, sr., West Platte; DB — Corbin Green, sr., North Platte; P — Gavin Davis, jr., West Platte
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE GOLD DIVISION
First team
QB — Billy Maples, sr., Park Hill; RB — Dorian Clayton, sr., Park Hill; WR — Ronnie Bell, sr., Park Hill; OL — Josh Nuttall, sr., Park Hill; LB — Brighton Ramirez, sr., Park Hill; DB — Devin Haney, sr., Park Hill; DL — Ethan Smith, jr., Park Hill
Second team
OL — Cory Reiter, jr., Park Hill; K — Davin Dorrell, sr., Park Hill; LB — Haden Wallace, jr., Park Hill; DL — Jhalen Turner, sr., Park Hill; Zach Mikuls, sr., Park Hill
Honorable mention
WR — Jordan Murphy, sr., Park Hill; DJ Johnson, sr., Park Hill; Joe Webb, jr., Park Hill; Payton Stanfield, jr., Park Hill; OL — Jaleel Brazil, sr., Park Hill; Brett Hooten, sr., Park Hill; TJ Ross, sr., Park Hill; Delon Morrow, sr., Park Hill; LB — Jarrett Ross, sr., Park Hill; Cole Gonier, jr., Park Hill; Seth Garrison, jr., Park Hill; DB — Kolby Heinerikson, jr., Park Hill; DaShaun Powell, jr., Park Hill; Javion Gathrite, so., Park Hill; DL — Johnny Wilson, so., Park Hill; P — Davin Dorrell, sr., Park Hill
Offensive player of the year — Ronnie Bell, sr., Park Hill
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE RED DIVISION
First team
RB — Ta’Von Tusa, jr., Park Hill South; OL — Ben Becker, sr., Park Hill South; DL — Etinosa Reuben, jr., Park Hill South; LB — Connor Campbell, sr., Park Hill South; DB — Payton Murray, jr., Park Hill South
Second team
OL — Tyler Templin, jr., Park Hill South; LB — Sam Beuerlein, jr., Park Hill South; K — Stephen Personelli
Honorable mention
WR — Drake Chandler-Gillian, sr., Park Hill South; OL — Christian Holferty, sr., Park Hill South; Christian Pirnack, sr., Park Hill South; DL — Gage Gordon, jr., Park Hill South; LB — Jakob LeBar, jr., Park Hill South; DB — Hunter Thompson, jr., Park Hill South; P — Brock Ivy, so., Park Hill South
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE BLUE DIVISION
First team
QB — Tanner Clarkson, sr., Platte County; WR — John Watts, sr., Platte County; Devin Richardson, sr., Platte County; OL — Matt Blaha, sr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, sr., Platte County; DL — Michael Smith, sr., Platte County; LB — Dakota Schmidt, sr., Platte County; DB — JP Post, sr., Platte County
Second team
RB — Gavin Hardman, sr., Platte County; WR — Dylan Gilbert, jr., Platte County; OL — Reid Sutter, jr., Platte County; DL — Chase Blankenship, sr., Platte County; LB — Kobe Cummings, sr., Platte County; DB — Dylan Gilbert, jr., Platte County; P — Parker Lacina, sr., Platte County
Honorable mention
RB — Adel Freitek, jr., Platte County; OL — Trevor Tietz, sr., Platte County; DL — Sage Smart, sr., Platte County; DB — Hunter Tongate, sr., Platte County; Nolan Saale, jr., Platte County
Offensive player of the year — Tanner Clarkson, sr., Platte County
Defensive player of the year — Michael Smith, sr., Platte County
ALL-KCI CONFERENCE
First team
LB — Remington Wilson, sr., North Platte; P — Gavin Davis, jr., West Platte
Second team
RB — Remington Wilson, sr., North Platte; Gavin Davis, jr., West Platte; TE — Grant Eagen, sr., West Platte; K — Gavin Davis, jr., West Platte; LB — Noah Johnson, jr., West Platte; S — Gavin Davis, jr., West Platte
Honorable mention
RB — Brayan Rodriguez, sr., West Platte; G — Bart Owens, sr., North Platte; T — Cole Whalen, sr., West Platte; TE — Austin Snook, sr., North Platte; WR — Corbin Green, sr., North Platte; DT — Chase Chesnut, jr., North Platte; LB — Brayan Rodriguez, sr., West Platte; CB — Corbin Green, sr., North Platte; S — Grant Eagen, sr., West Platte; P — Corbin Green, sr., North Platte