Tough playing conditions were crucial in the Pirate football team’s demise as Platte County (5-6) failed to keep its season alive with multiple turnovers when Oak Park (8-2) came out with a 33-21 postseason victory on Nov. 4.
Platte County’s Dayton Doll rushes past an Oak Park defender in the first half of the Pirates 33-21 postseason loss on Nov. 4.
For the entirety of the Class 5 District 8 Semifinal, there was a downpour of rain in cold temperatures. Platte County had miscues early, with three quick turnovers putting Oak Park ahead 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
With under six minutes left in the half, the Pirates were facing a 4th and eight from the Platte County 33-yard line when they originally punted it, but a roughing the kicker penalty by Oak Park extended the drive. After two runs by Rocco Marriott and Dayton Doll, the Pirate offense finally put some points on the board with a 36-yard passing touchdown from Dylan Zimmerman to Chandavian Bradley with 4:21 left in the half.
On the first Oak Park play on the ensuing drive, Darrell Smith Jr. forced a fumble and Cobe Pollard recovered it near midfield. Platte County couldn’t capitalize – with Zimmerman’s pass being intercepted ending the potential game-tying drive – and Oak Park entered halftime with a 14-7 lead.
Platte County came out of the locker room determined to keep its season alive, scoring on the first two drives of the third quarter. Zimmerman connected with Bradley once again and the senior took it 76-yards to the house, but the point after kick was no good, and the Northmen held a 14-13 advantage.
After an Oak Park three-and-out, Platte County only needed four plays to take its first lead of the night. Zimmerman found Dawsen Mizell who scored on a 32-yard catch – followed by a successful 2-point conversion pass from Zimmerman to Carter Salzman – to put the Pirates ahead 21-14 with 6:50 left in the third quarter.
The Pirates turned the ball over on their next two possessions and the Northmen took advantage of one of them, tying the game with 14 seconds left in the third quarter, which was the first of three unanswered Oak Park touchdowns. Platte County punted on its first possession of the fourth quarter before Caden McGhee intercepted a pass from Oak Park quarterback Aiden Hinkle at the 50-yard line with 10:01 remaining in regulation.
The Pirates were once again unable to move the chains and punted it back to the Northmen who put together a five play, 53-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard run by Hinkle and the Pirates trailed 27-21 with 7:13 left. Platte County’s ensuing drive started with a pre-snap illegal substitution penalty and a 10-yard loss on a sack and Zimmerman booted a punt to the Oak Park 9-yard line.
Northmen running back Travon Pankey plowed through the Pirate defense and ran 91 yards for the third straight Oak Park touchdown with under six minutes to play. Zimmerman led the Pirate offense down to the Northmen 36-yard line with 4:46 left in the contest, but his pass hit the turf and Oak Park ran the clock out for the rest of the way.
The Northmen won the time of possession battle, being on offense for 29:31 opposed to the Pirates’ 17:51, while both squads had seven punts on the night. Oak Park outgained Platte County’s yardage by 327 to 254.
Zimmerman completed six passes for 178 yards – led by Bradley who had two receptions for 112 yards and two scores – along with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Platte County says farewell to a talented senior class who was a part of two second place finishes at state in 2019 and 2020.