The West Platte football team (1-1) made some crucial defensive adjustments after giving up more than 400 yards in the season opener as the Blue Jays only allowed South Harrison (0-2) to 80 yards en route to a 28-6 victory on September 2.
Christian Larrabee had 37 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns in the Blue Jays 28-6 victory over South Harrison on Sept. 2.
The Blue Jay defense was more stellar on the ground game, forcing the Bulldogs to -32 rushing yards. South Harrison struck first with a 12-yard pass with 9:05 left in the opening quarter to take a 6-0 lead before West Platte shut the Bulldogs’ offense down for the rest of the night.
“We made a few schematic changes, moved some people around, and we got Gunner Smith with enough practices to play,” West Platte head coach Jim Newsted said. “What a difference a week makes.”
In the Blue Jays’ opening drive, they lost leading rusher Afton Buckler for the game with a bone bruise to his shin. Christian Larrabee stepped up big time as the running back, finding the end zone three times.
Larrabee scored his first two touchdowns from the goal line in the second and third quarters before closing the game out with a 7-yard score with 5:17 left in the contest, leading the Blue Jays to their first win of the fall. The junior had 37 rushes for 208 yards and Kane Cogan also rushed in from 1-yard out in the second quarter for West Platte’s other touchdown.
“I was very pleased with the effort. We challenged the kids after last week and they responded well,” Newsted said.
Kogan completed three passes to three different receivers for 63 yards, led by Cohen Kite with 38 yards in the air. Gunner Smith had one catch for 15 yards and Peyson Chandler had a reception for 10 yards.
Chandler led the defense in tackles for the second week in a row with 12 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks, while Lane Scott had another great performance with seven tackles, three tackles for a loss and one sack. West Platte will have a tough matchup in its next game as the Blue Jays head to Mid-Buchanan (2-0) to take on the only unbeaten team in the KCI Conference.