Five crucial turnovers by the Platte County football team (3-5) helped Park Hill South snap a 4-game losing streak and earn a 49-23 victory on Oct. 14.
The Pirates and Panthers entered the day with different situations – in addition to Park Hill South being in Class 6 and Platte County being in Class 5 – as the home team hadn’t won a game since Sept. 9 and the road team was coming off two straight victories. Platte County went three-and-out to start the contest, but both squads scored a touchdown on the ensuing two drives.
Briggs Bartosh ran in for five yards with 9:42 to play in the first quarter and 2:05 later, Dylan Zimmerman connected with Dom Spears for 41 yards. Platte County’s kick attempt was blocked so Park Hill South led 7-6.
The Panthers punted on their next drive but two plays later, Zimmerman threw his first of three interceptions to D’ante Wells at the Platte County 26-yard-line. Park Hill South only needed four plays to get back on the scoreboard, doing so with a 16-yard pass from Bartosh to Mike Lane.
Park Hill South senior Briggs Bartosh was in the end zone four times as the senior completed eight of his 17 pass attempts for 135 yards and two scores, along with 14 carries for 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Trailing 14-6, Platte County responded with an 8-play, 75-yard drive that ended on the first play of the second quarter when freshman Rocco Marriott ran into the end zone from one yard away. The Pirates’ 2-point conversion was no good and Park Hill South held onto a 14-12 margin.
On the ensuing kickoff to the Park Hill South 16-yard line, Marcel Milner returned it seven yards before fumbling it and the Pirates recovered. Platte County converted on a 4th and five but couldn’t move the chains again and settled for a 26-yard field goal by Aaron Cordova to take a 15-14 advantage with 10:57 left in the half.
The Pirates’ lead was short-lived as an 18-yard kick return by Milner gave the Panthers solid field position. In three plays, Park Hill South scored a touchdown – with a 52-yard rush by Darrien Jones – to go back up 20-15 and started to pull away.
With 8:19 to play in the half on the next Pirate drive, Zimmerman’s pass was picked off by Jordan Hilsinger and returned 43 yards to the Platte County 11-yard line. Bartosh rushed in for a 9-yard score on the second play of the series to push the margin to 28-15, which was the score at halftime.
The Panthers struck first in the second half when Bartosh tossed his second touchdown pass of the night, this time to Jones for 84 yards. Platte County senior defensive lineman Blake Rueckert forced and recovered a Bartosh fumble the next time Park Hill South was on offense, but the Pirates couldn’t capitalize and went three-and-out.
The Panthers also punted, but their defense came up with another turnover when Noah Washington came down with an interception at the Platte County 23-yard line in the final seconds of the third quarter. Kiros Martin ran in from the 2-yard line with right over 10 minutes left in regulation and Platte County trailed 49-15.
Marriott took over under center the rest of the way and the freshman led the Pirates down the field on a 3:47, 66-yard scoring drive. Marriott ran in from six yards out and connected with fellow freshman Brooks Halls on the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 49-23.
There were no more scores from that point on and the Pirates fumbled on their last drive of the game as Park Hill South only outgained Platte County 378 to 325 on offense in the 26-point victory. The Pirates struggled on third downs, only converting on two of their 16 tries but were successful on all three fourth down attempts.
Bartosh was in the end zone four times as the senior completed eight of his 17 pass attempts for 135 yards and two scores, along with 14 carries for 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Jones ran for 140 yards and had 92 receiving yards on four catches and two total touchdowns.
For Platte County, Dayton Doll had six catches for 81 yards and Spears caught three passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. Marriott ran for 49 yards and two touchdowns, while Zimmerman passed for 212 yards, one score and three interceptions.
The Panthers move to 3-1 at home on the season ahead of the regular season finale against Lee’s Summit (4-4) on Oct. 21. The Pirates will look to bounce back against White Division and Class 5 District 8 opponent William Chrisman (3-5) on the same day.