The Blue Jays pulled out a tough, conference victory on their homecoming when the West Platte football team a Lathrop 14-7 on Oct. 1.
West Platte controlled the clock as it had possession for more than 32:00 of the contest, but the Blue Jays were unable to capitalize on a majority of their drives. West Platte fumbled the ball twice – losing one – and turned it over on downs multiple times.
With the conference game tied at 7-7 late in the fourth quarter, the Blue Jays started with the ball at their own 24-yard line and milked the clock while driving down the field. West Platte capped the drive off with a 3-yard touchdown run from Emmett Sullivan with 32 seconds left to take a 14-7 lead.
Lathrop threw an interception on its final possession and West Platte was able to end the game by kneeling the ball to secure its fifth win through the first six contests of the 2021 season. The victory puts the Blue Jays in third place in the KCI Conference behind undefeated Mid-Buchanan and East Buchanan.
In the first half, Trent Taylor rushed in from 3 yards out to give West Platte its first score of the contest with 9:46 remaining in the second quarter. Lathrop tied the game with 50 seconds left with a 9-yard pass to tie the game right before halftime.
The Blue Jays’ defense showed up and only allowed the Mules to have 52 yards passing and 32 yards rushing on the night. Tanner Rowe and Taylor both intercepted the Mules once, while Cameron Williams and Lama Henderson both ended with one sack.
Offensively, Williams rushed for 199 yards on 24 carries and Sullivan added 57 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts. Dublin Carnahan was the only wide receiver with a catch as the senior had one reception for 28 yards. The Blue Jays will head to Dearborn on Friday, Oct. 8, to take on winless North Platte.