The Platte County football team’s quest for a third straight appearance at state came up just short when four Pirate turnovers resulted in Fort Osage winning the Class 5 District 8 Championship, 22-20, on Nov. 12.
The Pirates were the Class 5 Runner-Up in 2020 and Class 4 Runner-Up in 2019, including three straight seasons with a district title. Platte County and Fort Osage had never matched up against each other in program history and the district championship was a barnburner.
Platte County senior Nate Walls rushed in for an 11-yard touchdown with 6:19 remaining in the first quarter of the Class 5 District 8 Championship against Fort Osage on Nov. 12.
The Pirates opened the contest with an impressive outing on both offense and defense to take a 14-0 lead. The Platte County defense forced three straight Fort Osage punts – partially blocking the third punt – and the Pirates’ offense scored on two of the first three drives.
Nate Walls rushed in for an 11-yard touchdown with 6:19 remaining in the first quarter and Jared Parsons found Carter Salzman for a 1-yard score with 56 seconds left in the opening quarter. The Class 5 opponents swapped fumbles in the second quarter before Fort Osage found the end zone with 1:58 left in the first half.
From that point on, Platte County turned it over on three out of its next five possessions – not counting a blocked punt that the Indians scored on. Parsons threw an interception late in the second quarter when the ball bounced off Brody Fulk’s hands and an Indian cornerback dove out to secure the ball and Platte County went into the locker room with a 14-7 lead.
On the second play of the second half, Parsons fumbled the ball and Fort Osage recovered and returned it for a touchdown, but the extra point was unsuccessful. The Pirates’ miscues continued on their ensuing possession when they attempted a punt and had it blocked and returned for another Fort Osage score, but the 2-point try was no good.
Platte County bounced back and regained the lead with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Parsons to Fulk with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter. The Pirates were unsuccessful with the 2-point conversion but led 20-19.
Fort Osage marched down the field, but the Platte County defense kept the Indians out of the end zone and made them settle for a 25-yard field goal as the Pirates trailed 22-20 with 7:16 remaining in regulation. Platte County drove down the field, but Parsons threw an interception at the 23-yard line with 4:53 remaining in regulation.
That was the Pirates’ last possession on offense as the Indians were able to run out the clock to secure the victory and eliminate Platte County. Parsons completed 15 of his 23 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Salzman was the Pirates’ top receiver in the postseason contest when he ended with five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Dayne Wimberly had five catches for 52 yards, Fulk had five catches for 34 yards and a touchdown, and Walls rushed for 32 yards and a score.