Coming off a 28-point victory against the same team in the regular season finale, the Platte County football team (5-5) rattled off 34 straight points after trailing early against William Chrisman (3-7) in the opening round of the Class 5 District 8 Tournament en route to a 54-23 win on Oct. 28.
The Bears struck first and took a 3-0 lead with a 45-yard field goal, but the Pirates only trailed for 4:01 before stepping on the gas and not letting up. A 13-yard first quarter touchdown pass from Dylan Zimmerman to Dawsen Mizell ignited a 34-0 Platte County run in the first half alone.
Platte County wideout Dawsen Mizell opened up the postseason with a seven catch, four-touchdown performance to lift the Pirates to a 54-23 victory over William Chrisman on Oct. 28.
Heading into the second quarter with a 7-3 margin, the Pirates found the end zone four times in the quarter alone to outscore the Bears 27-0. Zimmerman was responsible for three of the four touchdowns, all of which were through the air.
Dayton Doll scored his first of two rushing touchdowns on a 29-yard run in the opening minute of the second quarter. Tristan Magnuson had a 15-yard reception that resulted in a score less than four minutes later.
Mizell has become a top target and had an impressive first half, bringing in three touchdown receptions. Following the first quarter score, he came down with a pair of scores – from one yard and 31 yards out – in the final 5:26 of the half to help Platte County take a comfortable 34-3 lead.
William Chrisman came up with a pair of defensive touchdowns to start the second half, cutting the deficit to 34-17 with 8:26 left in the third quarter but Platte County responded. Zimmerman threw his fifth touchdown pass of the night with 3:19 left in the third quarter to Mizell – who ended the night with seven catches for 108 yards and four receiving touchdowns – from 14 yards out.
Platte County scored two more touchdowns in the final minute of the quarter to push the lead to 54-17. Doll had a run from the 1-yard line, which was followed by a recovered fumble by Archie Wesley and a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Grant Archibald.
The Bears scored with 1:07 on the clock to add six points to the scoreboard, but the Pirates walked away with a huge margin of victory. Zimmerman completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 294 yards and five touchdowns, while Doll led the rushing attack with 17 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
The Pirates advance to the district semifinals to take on Oak Park (7-2) on the road on Nov. 4. The No. 3 seed has a chance to get redemption as the Northmen defeated Platte County 47-25 in the regular season matchup on Sept. 23.