Platte County head football coach Bill Utz helped lead the Pirates to a 35-7 district win over Raytown on Oct. 27.
PLATTE CITY – En route to its fifth win in a row and clinching a postseason victory for the 10th consecutive season, the Platte County football team (8-2) scored the first 35 points to advance past the first round of the Class 5 District 8 Tournament on Oct. 27.
The No. 2 seed had a favorable matchup to begin district play, taking on Raytown (2-8) at home. Platte County relied on the run game early, scoring the opening three touchdowns on the ground.
Adam Gisler, who ended the night with a game-high 106 rushing yards, ran in for two of the first three scores. The sophomore running back rushed into the end zone from 16 yards out on the third play of the Pirates’ second series of the contest, making the score 7-0 with 5:40 left in the first quarter.
In the final moment of the first quarter, Rocco Marriott ran seven yards on a 3rd and short to put another Platte County touchdown on the board. Gisler started the second quarter off with a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
Marriott capped off an 11 play, 91-yard scoring drive with a 26-yard passing touchdown to Jack Utz with 1:11 left in the first half. That was the only reception Utz had on the night and the Pirates had a comfortable 28-0 lead at the break.
Platte County only needed three plays – two runs and one pass – to get back on the scoreboard in the second half. Marriott connected with Brooks Hall for a 15-yard score to push the margin to 35-0, making the clock start running without any stoppage.
Raytown scored its only touchdown of the night with 8:41 left on an 85-yard pass and Platte County went on to win, 35-7. Marriott completed eight of his nine passes for 89 yards and ran for 27 yards, scoring thrice.
Raytown had four fumbles and Savion Jones intercepted a pass for Platte County. The Pirates will host No. 3 seed Fort Osage (6-4) – who beat Platte County in the 2021 Class 5 District 8 Championship – on Nov. 3.