Platte County quarterback Rocco Marriott (#9) passed for 174 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and ran for 13 yards and a touchdown in the Pirates’ 45-24 loss to Grain Valley on Sept. 15.
PLATTE CITY – Two of the best football teams in Class 5 met in week 4 with Grain Valley (3-1) erupting for 355 yards on the ground and getting the better end of Platte County (3-1) on Sept. 15.
Entering the night, Grain Valley and Platte County were the only teams in Class 5 with two wins over ranked opponents in the young season. This was also the second straight week the Pirates played a district opponent as the Eagles now are frontrunners for the top seed with the 45-24 win.
Grain Valley senior running back Ty Williams caused havoc for the Platte County defense all night long, having 398 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. Williams ran in for two first quarter scores from 70 and 29 yards out.
The Pirates nearly matched that but had a 65-yard touchdown pass from Rocco Marriott to Dawsen Mizell called back on a holding call on their first drive, which ended up in a punt. Adam Gisler helped Platte County march down the field on its next drive and Marriott plowed his way in from two yards out to tie the game with 1:35 on the first quarter clock, but Grain Valley took a 14-7 lead with 17 seconds left.
The Eagles added a 20-yard field goal midway through the second quarter and the Pirates responded with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Gisler to make the score 17-14 with right under four minutes left in the half. Marriott had a pair of big completions to Braiden Stevens and Lane Webb in that series.
Williams found the end zone three straight times in the second half – starting with a 61-yard reception early in the third quarter – before Platte County scored on offense. Williams rushed in from 22 yards out in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter and pushed the lead to 38-16 with right over three minutes left on a 1-yard gain.
Platte County had a promising drive in the red zone to start the fourth quarter but fumbled the ball at the 5-yard line. Tucker McDowell forced an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, resulting in a safety with 7:38 left.
After trailing 38-16, Tres Baskerville nearly returned the kickoff to the house and Platte County scored two plays later. Marriott connected with classmate Brooklyn Hall for a 4-yard score and Mizell brought in the 2-point conversion with 2:03 on the clock.
Grain Valley put the nail in the coffin with a 64-yard touchdown on the first play of the next series, making the score 45-24. This was the first time the Pirates lost to the Eagles at home in more than 15 years.
Marriott threw for 174 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions along with having 13 yards and a score on the ground. Gisler ran for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Mizell led the vertical attack with two catches for 83 yards and a score.
Platte County will have little time to dwell on the loss as Oak Park (4-0) is coming to town on Sept. 22. The Northmen defeated the Pirates twice last season, including a 33-21 victory in the Class 5 District 8 Semifinals.