Slow at the start and sluggish to the finish, the end result mattered the most.
Coupled with a result on the other end of Highway 92, Platte County’s optimal scenario played out Friday, Oct. 19 at Pirate Stadium. The Pirates held on for an important 28-19 win over Grandview and moved up to the No. 2 spot in the Class 4 District 8 standings.
Smithville remained at No. 1 with a thrilling 17-14 minor upset of Kearney. However in addition to creating a three-way tie between the teams for the Suburban Conference Blue Division title, the outcomes allowed Platte County to earn the No. 1 seed in the district bracket, leapfrogging the Warriors for the top spot based on the head-to-head result of their game four weeks earlier.
“It’s exciting and all that, but we’re just going to grind it out. We’re all business,” Platte County senior wide receiver Dylan Gilbert said. “There’s always improvement. We can always get better. I really think if we put our parts together and play all four quarters, I think we’ll be really good.”
Platte County (8-1) ran its win streak to six straight with momentum carrying them to two of their season goals.
The run to the end of the regular season since a Week 3 loss at Kearney included dramatic comebacks over Smithville and Raymore Peculiar, but in the past two weeks, Platte County simply took care of business. This included dealing with the absence of senior running back Adel Freitek, who sat out a second straight game due to illness.
Platte County sophomore running back Cayden Davis again filled in admirably with 107 yards on 30 tough carries to go over the century mark for a second straight week and third time this season. Spencer Stewart, the Pirates’ senior quarterback, totaled four touchdown passes for the fifth time in the past six games — two of them to Gilbert.
To aid the cause, Platte County’s defense allowed only one sustained scoring drive and came up with key stops thanks to two sacks and two turnovers.
The Pirates will still have plenty to work toward heading into this week’s home rematch with Winnetonka (1-8). Class 4 District 8 is one of the toughest fields in the state with five teams at 7-2 or better.
Two weeks ago, Platte County blistered the Griffins 45-20, and another win would set up a matchup with either No. 4-seeded Excelsior Springs (7-2) or No. 5-seeded St. Joseph Lafayette (7-2). However, the Pirates avoid the potential of Kearney or Smithville until the title game, knowing they won’t have to get through both.
“You know what? Excelsior Springs and Lafayette are pretty good, too,” Utz said. “Either way, our district is nails. It’s going to be a crazy district; it’s going to be a physical district. Any way you’ve got to get to it, it’s going to be tough. We like playing here (at home) so we’ll take it when we can get it.”
Physical and athletic, Grandview (4-5) presented problems from the start and nearly had a say in determining the District 8 standings and the Blue Division title.
The Bulldogs used a big opening kickoff to go across midfield before running a play, but Platte County senior safety came up with a sack on a fourth down just outside the red zone to keep the game scoreless. However, Stewart threw two interceptions in the first half, leading to a touchdown off the first and prime scoring opportunity from the second.
Grandview quarterback Eli Beard hit Harold Trainer on an 82-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline one play after Platte County’s first turnover, which came inside the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line. Henderson Moore’s interception early in the second quarter started them at the Pirates’ 28, but six plays later and looking to add to a 6-0 lead, Grandview fumbled the ball away.
Platte County freshman linebacker Trevor Scott knocked the ball out of Beard’s hand, and Pirates sophomore defensive lineman Keaton Smith recovered to thwart the drive.
Early in the game, Platte County had Scott and fellow freshman safety Cade Fowler on the field along with three sophomores. Fowler received his varsity jersey just days earlier.
Saale and junior linebacker Gabe Harmon led Platte County with eight tackles, and Saale and senior defensive lineman Peyton Stoner had sacks. Scott had eight tackles and showed off his rapid development in his third game as a starter. He made multiple tack-les on the edge, helping to slow down Grandview’s outside running game, which needed 25 carries for running back Roderick Smith to reach 105 yards.
“Trevor came in during the Smithville game and really showed us what he can do and how he can help his team,” said Platte County junior defensive lineman Garret Watson, who emerged into a key piece on the Pirates’ defense in the second half of last season and recorded six tackles in the win over Grandview. “He’s just been clicking. He’ll make mistakes, but he’s young, and we’re helping him through it. The defense has been doing well.”
The defensive stops gave Platte County’s offense time to find footing.
Late in the first quarter, Stewart hit senior wide receiver Brice Bertram on the left side-line, and he weaved his way 54 yards for a touchdown with help from senior wide re-ceiver Carter Utt’s key block downfield. The Pirates went up 7-6 52 seconds left before halftime but nearly got a chance to add to the lead before the break.
On Grandview’s next offensive snap, Saale jumped up to intercept Beard’s underthrown pass near midfield, but the ensuing drive fizzled.
Instead, Platte County took the opening kickoff, and on the first play, Davis followed a crushing block from pulling junior left tackle Wyett Wallingford on a 27-yard run into Grandview territory. The Pirates turned the drive into points on a fourth and 20 gamble at the 24 with Stewart hitting Davis for a 24-yard touchdown on a route Freitek has used on multiple scoring plays this season.
The end-of-the-first-half, beginning-of-the-second-half scoring combination put Platte County up 14-6.
“That’s why we love to defer, just to be able to have that opportunity,” Utz said. “That played out exactly the way you draw it up and want it to be done.”
Platte County ended up scoring on three straight second half drives with the next touchdowns on completions to Gilbert. He caught a 45-yarder to give him a touchdown reception in each of the Pirates’ six straight wins, and he hauled in a 2-yarder on a fourth down to make it 28-6 with 1:12 to go in the third quarter.
Gilbert finished with team-highs of eight catches and 129 yards, adding to his program record for receptions and moving him within 47 yards of current assistant coach Todd Jaros’ career mark in that category. Bertram added four catches for 122 yards with the big plays aiding Stewart’s line of 18 of 43 for 347 yards.
“Dylan just really wants it,” Utz said. “He makes big plays when we need them.”
Despite all the offensive production, Platte County went quiet for the final quarter, and Grandview closed within two possessions on a five-play drive capped with Beard’s 30-yard touchdown with 5:09 to go. The Pirates’ ensuing drive ended when Moore stepped in front of another Stewart pass and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown that cut the lead to 28-19.
As news of Smithville’s comeback win reached the stadium, a few nerves set in with Grandview offered a chance to be back within one score. However, the Bulldogs missed the extra point, leaving the deficit at nine points and allowing Platte County to recover an onside kick, run out the final 1:49 and hold on for the win.
“There were some down parts, but at the same time, it was one big play they scored on,” Utz said. “At the same time, it was one big play they scored on. They have a really good running game, and they’re a good team. We knew it would be a tough game, and they just showed at the end with the pick-six that they’re dangerous as heck. We’re happy with any win.”
Despite being the No. 2 seed last year, Platte County played all three Class 4 District 8 games at home, shutting out upstart No. 4 seed Lafayette in the title game. There’s no chance of another road game in the next three weeks.
Having checked off a conference title and home-field advantage from the goal list, Platte County’s players have the chance to control their destiny in search of a second straight playoff berth coming off of a run to the state semifinals a year ago.
“We’re looking out one game at a time,” Watson said. “You’ve got to go 1-0 each week to advance. That’s all.”