PLATTE CITY – Rivalries make football more enticing for fans, and the spectators who were rocking Pirate Stadium got their money’s worth on a night that saw two turnovers, two touchdowns and two successful 2-point conversions in the final 2:17 of regulation.
Platte County sophomore Adam Gisler scored three touchdowns in the Pirates’ 43-36 win over Smithville on Sept. 1.
Platte County (2-0) and Smithville (1-1) have had some memorable matchups in recent years, but few compare to the most recent one on Sept. 1. Both squads walked into the stadium without a loss in the early season and it went down to the wire, entering the fourth quarter tied at 28.
Platte County sophomore Adam Gisler filled in well for senior Dayton Doll who suffered a shoulder injury in the season opener. Gisler bullied his way into the end zone for the third time of the night with 8:36 left in the fourth quarter to put Platte County ahead 35-28.
The Warriors had a promising drive deep in the Pirates’ territory until sophomore running back Austin Clevenger coughed the ball up at the 4-yard-line. Tucker McDowell and Montez Clemons were on the play to give the ball back to Platte County.
The final few minutes are when things got crazy, starting with a bobbled pass from Rocco Marriott that ended in the hands of a Smithville defender at the Platte County 15-yard-line with 2:17 on the clock. Smithville senior quarterback Jake Shaffer connected with Benjamin Murawski for a 6-yard touchdown with 51 seconds left, making the score 36-35.
The Warriors called a timeout and decided to go for the win and attempt a 2-point conversion instead of tying the game with a kick. Shaffer found Max Mckenzie out of the timeout and Smithville led 36-35.
Platte County had little time to respond, but its sophomore quarterback came up clutch. Smithville had a crucial 12-men on the field penalty late and the Pirates scored on the next play.
Marriott connected with Braiden Stevens for a 12-yard touchdown with 24 seconds left to go, up 41-36. Platte County decided to go for two as well and were successful on a pass to Lane Webb, making the score 43-36 and eventually winning by that score.
Smithville has been one of the top teams in Class 4 in the last couple years – winning it all in 2021 – and had beaten Platte County in the last two matchups. The Pirates will have bragging rights for the next year since they’re in Class 5 and won’t have a chance to rematch the rival in the postseason.
The first half was tight as Smithville went up by a touchdown on passes down the right sideline twice, and Platte County responded both times. Gisler ran in from 14 yards out in the first quarter and Marriott connected on a 2-yard passing touchdown to Tres Baskersville after an 18-yard reception by Webb put the ball in scoring position in the second quarter.
Platte County went on to briefly lead 21-14 when Gisler rushed in for a 9-yard touchdown with 4:09 on the clock but the Warriors tied the game ahead of the break. On the first play of the second half, Marriott’s pass was tipped, intercepted and Smithville regained a 28-21 lead two plays later.
Gisler tied the game at 28 with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter with a 4-yard rushing touchdown before an eventful fourth quarter. Platte County is off to a solid start to the fall and will look to keep that going against North Kansas City (1-1) – who has lost four in a row to the Pirates – on the road on Sept. 8.