After leading 14-6 with 1:57 remaining, Cameron Wolfe intercepted a pass from North Kansas City and returned it for a 39-yard touchdown to lift the Platte County football team to a 21-6 victory on Nov. 5.
The Pirates entered the Class 5 District 8 Semifinals with six straight trips to a district championship. Since Platte County was bumped up from Class 4 to Class 5 last fall, this was the fourth matchup between the Pirates and Hornets since the start of 2020.
Platte County’s Jarrod Parsons, above, threw two touchdown passes in the Pirates 21-6 district semifinal victory over North Kansas City on Nov. 5.
Both teams won one game last year as the Hornets bested the Pirates in the regular season and Platte County eliminated North Kansas City in the district semifinals. In the regular season contest this fall, the Pirates took down the Hornets with ease in a 29-0 victory on Sept. 17.
The postseason rematch at Platte County High School was a defensive battle with the Pirates clinching onto a 7-6 halftime lead. With 1:02 remaining in the opening quarter, Jared Parsons connected with Brody Fulk for Platte County’s only score of the first half.
North Kansas City responded with a 20-yard touchdown run with 3:52 left in the second quarter, but the Pirates blocked the extra point. There wasn’t any scoring in the third quarter as Platte County entered the final 12:00 with a 1-point lead.
With 5:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, Platte County extended its lead with another Parsons to Fulk touchdown. This time the touchdown happened when the junior quarterback completed a pass with Llandon Fulk for a 6-yard score.
On the Hornets’ ensuing possession, they turned it over on downs at their own 45-yard line with 2:51 remaining. After Platte County took over on offense, Nate Walls fumbled the ball on the Pirates’ second play and North Kansas City regained possession with 2:09 left in regulation.
North Kansas City’s offense copied Platte County when the Hornets turned the ball over two plays into their drive. Wolfe’s defensive touchdown gave the Pirates a two-possession lead and North Kansas City was eliminated by Platte County for the second consecutive season.
Parsons completed seven of his 17 pass attempts for 102 yards and two touchdowns, while Walls rushed for 61 yards on 24 carries. The Pirate defense held the Hornets to just nine passing yards as Platte County allowed less than 10 points for the eighth time this season.
Platte County (9-2) has moved on to take on Fort Osage (9-1) in the Class 5 District 8 Championship on Nov. 12. The Indians will be entering the contest with seven straight wins, while the Pirates have won their last six games.