For nearly a quarter of a century the road to a state championship in Class 4 has ran through Webb City, Mo., in some form or fashion.
The Cardinals wrapped up a semifinal win on Saturday, Nov. 30 before Platte County even started the second half of an eventual 15-14 victory against St. Mary’s in St. Louis.
The two teams will meet for the second time ever on Friday, Dec. 6 in the state championship game in Columbia. The previous meeting came in 2017, with Webb City winning 21-18 in a state semifinal game in Webb City.
The Cardinals then won a state-record tying 14th state championship the following weekend.
“Webb City is obviously a team that if you look back on the history of Class 4 — I’m not sure exactly how many years it goes back — but either Webb City wins it or the team that beats them wins it,” Platte County coach Bill Utz said. “It’s going to work out that way again.”
The Cardinals were a budding power when John Roderique took over the helm in the 1997 season. The team reached the state semifinals in 1996 before losing to eventual state champion Excelsior Springs and had won three state titles prior.
Since Roderique has been the head coach, the Cardinals have advanced to the state semifinals 18 times in his 23 years and have won 11 state titles.
In 20 of the those past 23 years, Webb City has either won a state championship or the team that beat Webb City to end its season has won a state championship. The only exceptions came in 2007, 1999 and 1998.
Webb City and Valle Catholic both have 14 titles and each will play for a state title again this weekend.
Citizen file photo
Platte County players, including offensive linemen Matt Blaha (55) and Peyton Stoner (52), celebrate a touchdown during a Class 4 semifinal Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at Cardinal Stadium in Webb City, Mo.
The last title that Webb City won included a close win against the Pirates in 2017. The semifinal berth was the first in Class 4 for the Pirates and sixth overall in school history.
Two of the current starters for Platte County were part of that game and a third remembers that trip to play the powerhouse from southwest Missouri.
“I try to forget it but sometimes the memories come up,” said Platte County offensive lineman Max Renner, then a sophomore. “I always wanted a shot at them since we lost.”
Renner and fellow starter Garret Watson, who was also a sophomore that year, recalls the physicality of the Cardinals on both sides of the ball.
Webb City will enter as the favorite in many peoples’ eyes, but Watson feels like the Pirates could surprise people — much like they did in keeping the semifinal game so close two years ago.
“We didn’t think of ourselves as the underdog when we played Lincoln (College Prep) in districts. We feel like we’re up there with the best if we play to our ability and play physical. That is how we win football games.
“They (Webb City) are a very physical team and we will have to come out and meet their physicality. If we do that, we have a shot.”
That is exactly what Kearney did in the 2015 season, winning 17-14 in St. Louis. In Roderique’s 13 trips to the state finals, that was only his second loss.
“I remember the ones I lost a lot more than the ones we won,” said the Webb City coach that is 286-26 overall, the winningest coach in MSHSAA history in terms of winning percentage. “What is tough, the people just expect it. They don’t have an understanding how hard it is to do and it is so meaningful every time you line up. Someone else is putting in the same amount of time you have and they work hard and their coaches prepare the kids. I try to remind them it is a big deal. Just because someone has done it before doesn’t mean it’s not a big deal. It’s just natural perception stuff, I guess.”
Roderique has lost two state title games by four points. The other was a 27-26 loss to Clayton in overtime in 2004.
The Cardinals are tied for second all-time in MSHSAA with 30 playoff berths and have won 84 of their 100 playoff games — both the best in state history.
Webb City enters winners of its past 12 games, the only setback a 35-28 loss to Joplin, the Class 6 runners-up. Webb City dispatched Carthage, a Class 5 finalist, as well as knocking off defending Class 4 champion Ladue Horton Watkins to return to the title game.
Platte County has racked up five wins in a row since an upset loss against Grandview late in the season.
“They are a very good team and I think when you talk about this game and this junction of the season, they obviously earned the right to be there,” Roderique said of Platte County. “They are a very talented team and they have a lot of speed. They are a good fundamentals team and are a well-coached team.”
Webb City, like Platte County, only has a few players that saw action in the 2017 playoff game. Starting running backs Terrell Kabala and Devrin Weathers both were on varsity, though Kabala missed the game with an injury. Weathers is the feature back this year, running for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kabala, a Division II basketball signee, leads the Cardinals with 19 rushing touchdowns. The Cardinals, like in past years, runs a veer option attack that relies heavily on the quarterback’s read option.
Webb City is preparing for a balanced attack from the Pirates, led by Fontana Award finalist Chris Ruhnke. The junior has passed for 2,820 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first season at the helm. His 206 yard effort against St. Mary’s was the sixth time this season he has thrown for more than 200 yards in a game. He also has tossed at least one touchdown in 12 of the 14 games leading up the state championship showdown.
Colby Rollins (659 yards/9 touchdowns) and Dayton Mitchell (869/8) have been the top targets for Ruhnke, who suited up as a true freshman and made the trip to Webb City in 2017. The rushing attack has gained more than 133 yards per game and the tandem of Trey Phan and Cayden Davis have run for more than 1,600 combined yards.
“They have a couple outstanding receivers and a good quarterback,” Roderique said. “They have good running backs. They are a real balanced offensive team that can run and throw. We will have to defend the whole field. It will be a great challenge for our defense.
“Whoever makes the least amount of mistakes comes out on top.”