Platte County quarterback Rocco Marriott threw two touchdowns on four completed passes in the Pirates’ 48-6 win over William Chrisman on Oct. 20.
INDEPENDENCE – The Platte County football team (7-2) not only ended the regular season with a 4-game winning streak capped off with a dominating conference victory, but also surpassed Fort Osage (5-4) in district standings.
Entering the regular season finale as the No. 3 team in the Class 5 District 8 standings, Platte County dismantled William Chrisman (4-5) and Fort Osage fell to Oak Park (9-0) to shake up the postseason standing on Oct. 20. The Pirates will enter districts as a top-2 seed and will have a favorable first-round matchup against Raytown (1-8), who lost 35-12 to Platte County on Sept. 29.
Since 2012, Platte County and William Chrisman have met seven times with the Pirates winning each matchup. Platte County won 48-6 in the regular season finale, which is the biggest margin of victory in the series – just surpassing a 41-0 Pirates shutout on August 22, 2014.
Adam Gisler erupted for 174 yards and two scores on the ground on just 10 attempts. Half of Rocco Marriott’s completed passes went for six as Tres Baskersville and Gisler each had a touchdown reception.
The game started off slow with only one touchdown – an 80-yard rush by Gisler – in the first quarter. Platte County erupted for 35 second quarter points and William Chrisman trailed 41-0 at the break.
Gisler had the first three touchdowns of the night, which included a 1-yard rush and 11-yard reception in the first four minutes of the second quarter. One play after Gisler’s hat-trick, Jordan Burnett scored on a pick six – his second of the season – with a 25-yard return to make the score 28-0.
Baskersville motioned in front of Marriott and took a flip pass into the end zone from six yards out with 3:17 left in the first half. The Bears finally had a promising drive down to the goal line right under a minute, but Montez Clemons intercepted a pass and returned it to the house for 100 yards.
Platte County’s defense continued to add points to the board in the second half when Darrell Smith had a 40-yard pick six, the third defensive touchdown of the night. William Chrisman scored in garbage time with a short run to prevent the shut out.
Platte County outgained William Chrisman 271 to 194 in its third straight blowout road win, including a 42-7 victory over Belton (5-4) back on Oct. 6. The Pirates will host Raytown on Oct. 27 with a chance to make it to the Class 5 District 8 Semifinals.