For the past few years, Bill Utz was building up a program that would compete for district titles and beyond.
Platte County finally took those steps last year by reaching the state semifinals for the first time ever in Class 4 and the first since the school’s Class 3A title in 2002.
To stay at that level and in the same breaths of Class 4 elite programs, Platte County will have to fill a lot of vacancies left by all-state players.
All told eight players viewed among the elite by the state’s coaches — seven made the media’s team — as top talents. Five players in that group will now play on Saturdays.
The cast is changing, but Pirate Nation is used to winning. Platte County reached two straight district finals before breaking through last fall, going 11-3 overall.
“We always have lofty goals,” said Utz, who has a 74-42 record at Platte County and won his 100th career game in a quarterfinal win against Moberly. “We need to stay healthy and we also need to be able to create extra possessions, by creating turnovers and making plays on special teams.”
The Pirates lost all-staters on both sides of the ball. The offense lost quarterback Tanner Clarkson and wide receivers Devin Richardson and John Watts. The defense needs to replace defensive lineman Michael Smith, linebackers Dakota Schmidt and Kobe Cummings and defensive back JP Post. Kicker Parker Lacina rounded out the all-starters that graduated.
Five other players earned all-district honors along with the all-staters but out of the 13, only two return.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Platte County coach Bill Utz talks to his team after a scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Those players are senior wide receiver Dylan Gilbert and senior offensive lineman Reid Sutter. Both were all-Conference picks in the Suburban Conference Blue Division picks, with Gilbert as a wide receiver and defensive back. Linebacker Nolan Saale, an honorable mention pick at defensive back, is back and so is running back Adel Freitek, another honorable mention honoree.
Senior defensive lineman Peyton Stoner is back for his third year on varsity.
The offense will get a boost from two newcomers from Kansas as the Pirates added Wyett Wallingford and Spencer Stewart.
Wallingford is a 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive lineman from Bishop Miege. The junior was part of two Class 4A-I titles in his two years at the private school.
Stewart is a move-in from ShawneeMission Northwest and has been honorable mention all-state in Class 6A the past two years. He threw for 2,133 yards as a sophomore and then added 2,507 yards last year.
Jeff Humburg, Eric Mitchell, Blake Seifert, Wayne Baskerville, Derek Yost, Todd Jaros, Jamar Parrish, Taylor Smith and Jason Gammill will be the assistant coaches this year that will help get a rather inexperienced roster ready for the rigors of the Suburban Conference.
Kearney beat Platte County for the Blue Division crown. The Bulldogs will again be a favorite in a division that adds Grain Valley and Smithville, while Belton moves up to the White division.
Platte County will play some other new teams this year as Park Hill South visit, as does Ray-Pec, the first Class 6 foe to visit Pirate Stadium.
The first test is a road game at Oak Park.
“We need to have patience, yet confidence,” Utz said. “The players have good instincts, and we have coached them soundly. We need to be confident in our abilities and completely play as a team.”