PLATTE CITY – For the third time in the last four weeks, the Park Hill South football team was on the wrong side of a one-possession game as Platte County (6-2) took down the Class 6 opponent for the first time since 2019.
Platte County juniors Darrell Smith (#28) and Archie Wesley (#20) sack Park Hill South senior quarterback Drew Paulakovich (#1) in the Pirates’ 24-21 win on Oct. 13.
Every year since 2018, Park Hill South and Platte County have played each other in the regular season with both squads earning three wins each in the series. The Pirates came away with a 24-21 victory on their homecoming, handing the Panthers their seventh consecutive loss on Oct. 13.
Park Hill South entered the night with a 1-6 record and took another loss, but has since had to forfeit each game this season by a score of 13-0. MSHSAA has had multiple teams that had the same punishment as the Panthers, but that doesn’t affect postseason eligibility.
It was a defensive battle early on with each of the first six possessions ending with a punt. On the sixth punt of the night, which was by Platte County, the ball hit a Park Hill South player and Seth Martin recovered the ball to lead to the opening score of the night.
Two plays later, Rocco Marriott kept the ball on a fake handoff and ran in for a Platte County touchdown from eight yards out. After the kick, Park Hill South trailed 7-0 with 42 seconds left in the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Drew Paulakovich threw a deep ball and Chance Taylor ran into the end zone for a 72-yard score. The game was tied with 11:49 on the second quarter clock.
The next two drives were punts then both squads intercepted a pass, starting with Park Hill South senior defensive back Javius Smith. Two plays later, Ayden Watts picked off Paulakovich with right under eight minutes left in the half.
For the second time on the night, Platte County took a Park Hill South turnover and turned it into points. Marriott connected with Dawsen Mizell for a 27-yard pass, making the score 14-7.
The Pirates had one last chance to get into the end zone ahead of the half, driving down to the goal line but Kiros Martin tackled Lane Webb for a 6-yard loss with three seconds left. Platte County called a timeout and Jackson Goodale knocked down a field goal.
Park Hill South started the game with the ball, so it began the second half on defense trailing 17-7, but Smith forced another interception. Three plays later, Paulakovich threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Saeed Mukhtar.
Platte County went three-and-out but got the ball back quickly when Ty Christopher picked off Paulakovich. The Pirates were in a goal-to-go situation but turned the ball over on downs at the 6-yard line.
That series didn’t result in any score, but Platte County extended the lead to two possessions late in the third quarter. The Pirates started at the Panthers’ 12-yard line – after Mason Love lined up to punt the ball but was tackled by Ty Christopher for a loss of eight yards on 4th down – and Marriott ran in six plays later.
Park Hill South responded early in the fourth quarter on 35-yard touchdown pass from Paulakovich to Taylor, cutting the deficit to 24-21. The Panthers had two more offensive series with chances to tie or take the lead but came up short.
Love attempted a fake punt on 4th and 13 and was taken down well shy of the marker and then punted on the final Park Hill South offensive play of the game. Platte County was able to run the clock out for the final 3:41 to secure the win.
Marriott completed 18-of-38 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown as Paulakovich threw for three scores and 170 yards on 11-of-40 passes. Both quarterbacks threw two interceptions on the night.
Taylor had both of the Panthers’ receiving touchdowns on four catches for 87 yards and Mukhtar had four receptions for 61 yards and one score. Mizell finished with five catches for 45 yards and a touchdown, along with Adam Gilser putting up 177 yards from scrimmage and one trip to the end zone.
The regular season is coming down to one final game on Oct. 20 before districts start. Platte County will head to William Chrisman (4-4) and Park Hill South will head to Lee’s Summit (3-5).