Platte County’s record-setting senior class ended up with five selections to the Missouri media all-state list in postseason honors recently released.
In a season that included a 49-0 win against eventual Class 4 state champion Harrisonville, Platte County put up some eye-popping statistics that helped garner six total spots on the Class 4 list. The Pirates ended the season ranked No. 7 in the final poll at 8-4, one spot back of 9-4 Webb City.
Park Hill South came in seventh in the final Class 5 poll following a resurgent season, while Park Hill was No. 10 in its first season in Class 6. Both schools had three all-state picks on the media teams.
Platte County’s senior class included seven three-year starters who helped the Pirates accrue a 25-10 record from 2014-2016. Each of the final two seasons ended with losses to Kearney in the Class 4 District 8 title game with the Bulldogs going onto the state title game both times.
Derek Kohler and TJ Guillory were first-team picks from the media for Platte County.
Now a two-time all-state pick, Kohler along with seniors Austin Gammill and Casey Jumps, was a three-year starter for a remarkably consistent offensive line. All three started 35 consecutive games with Kohler manning the left-tackle spot.
Platte County’s offense averaged nearly 40 points per game this year, scoring at least 30 in all 12 and topping 40 in six games, while putting up nearly 400 yards of offense per game.
The passing game put up 220 yards per game with Guillory grabbing a career-high 51 catches for 882 yards — both team-highs. His 10 receiving touchdowns ranked second behind junior John Watts’ 11.
Guillory finished his career with 129 receptions, becoming Platte County’s all-time leader in that category after passing current assistant coach Todd Jaros’ mark of 120 in a Class 4 District 8 semifinal win against Smithville. Guillory ended up with 2,012 career receiving yards, 1 ahead of Kyle Knox for second and just 48 behind Jaros’ school record mark of 2,060.
Justin Mitchell and Mike McNair were second-team all-state honorees from Platte County’s offense.
A baseball commit to Oklahoma University, Mitchell started three years and topped the 300-yard mark in three games this season, twice against Class 4 state runner-up Kearney. He took over as the all-time leading passer in Platte County history, breaking Brandon Gutshall’s record for career yards (4,874) in the first loss to Kearney.
Mitchell finished his career with 5,563 yards (career-high 2,544 this year) and a record 59 career touchdown passes (career-high 27 this season), three better than Gutshall, putting up those numbers despite missing the final seven games of his junior season due to a shoulder injury.
On the ground, Mitchell put up more than 1,000 yards in his career and 21 more touchdowns. He was third all-time for total offense at 6,671 yards, ranking only behind running back Zach Sherman and quarterback Krae Kelso.
With 447 rushing yards this season, Mitchell’s 2,991 yards of total offense were second for a single season in Platte County history behind only Kelso’s 3,155 in 2010.
McNair came up just 44 yards short of the sixth 1,500-yard season in Platte County history this season. His career-high 1,456 yards brought his career total to 3,516, second only to Sherman’s school-record mark of 7,727.
Scoring a team-high 22 touchdowns this season, McNair passed Joe Brown, Kelso, Joe Henson and RB Miller on the record list during his senior season with his second straight 1,000-yard campaign.
Kevin Neal, a three-year starter at defensive back, made the second team as a defensive back after making 95 tackles this season, second on the team in that category. He also had seven of his school-record 14 interceptions during his senior season, returning one for a touchdown.
Platte County’s sixth member of the media all-state team was junior kicker Parker Lacina (second team), who holds school records for longest field goal (53 yards in 2015) and career field goals (26). He went 11 of 18 on field goals this year with a long of 49 while hitting 41 of 43 extra points.
All three of Park Hill’s all-state picks were first-teamers in Class 6, including three-time selections Chester Graves and Parker Sampson.
Graves shifted to a more versatile role this season after starring at defensive end for two years. The Buck Buchanan Award winner as the best lineman or linebacker at a big school in the Kansas City metro area, Graves recorded 126 tackles (25 for loss) as more of a linebacker with his sack total going down from 15 as a sophomore to 13 as a junior to six this year.
In addition, Graves had three forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered and two blocked kicks this season.
Seven Wilson, another senior linebacker, also made the all-state first team. He led the Trojans in tackles for a second straight season (126 this year) to go with team-highs in tackles for loss (26) and sacks (eight).
Sampson finished out his record four-year career, potentially with multiple state records.
As a senior, Sampson went 14 for 19 on field goals with a career-long of 52 while making 30 of 32 extra points, scoring an average of 7.2 points per game in the Trojans’ 6-4 season. He finished with 244 career points as a kicker with 32 of 42 accuracy on field goals and 92.5 percent made extra point attempts (148 of 160).
As a senior, Sampson went 14 for 19 on field goals with a career-long of 52 while making 30 of 32 extra points, scoring an average of 7.2 points per game in the Trojans’ 6-4 season. He finished with 244 career points as a kicker with 32 of 42 accuracy on field goals and 92.5 percent made extra point attempts (148 of 160).
Sampson’s 244 kicking points are 12 more than previous state record holder Nick Jaros of Platte County, while his 32 field goals might also be a state record with the most recent listed mark just 21 along with his career kickoffs total of 255 (previous mark of 226).
Park Hill South’s resurgent season netted a trio of selections in Class 5, two on the first team.
Jake Springer made the list as a defensive back after his best season. The Suburban Conference Red Division defensive player of the year, he finished the year with 52 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and two touchdowns — one on a punt return.
Kyle Pitts, a senior punter, also made the list after averaging just under 39 yards per punt with nine of 36 kicks downed inside the 20 this season. He had a long of 55.
Park Hill South won eight straight games following a heartbreaking Week 3 loss to rival Park Hill, a stretch that included an unbeaten run through the Red Division. The Panthers won the Class 5 District 7 title before ending its season in the quarterfinals with a loss to Staley.
The first playoff appearance for the program since 2010 happened despite injuries to wide receiver Dillon Thomas (season-ending knee injury) and running back Emanuel Butler (six games missed with elbow injury).
Ben Becker, a junior offensive linemen for the Panthers, helped anchor the offense from his tackle spot. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, he blocked for an offense that averaged more than 300 yards per game, 2,281 on the ground and earned second-team all-state honors.
North Platte garnered one selection on the Class 1 all-state team with senior Ben French honored as a defensive back. The Panthers’ top offensive player with 888 yards rushing, 149 yards receiving, 147 yards passing and 12 total touchdowns, he also finished with 93 tackles, 1½ sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered and an interception.
Twelve of 13 local players on the media all-state list also made the Missouri Football Coaches Association all-state teams, which picks three teams for each class. Four players not on the media teams were on the coaches’ teams.
For Platte County, Kohler was a first-team pick on both lists, while Mitchell, Neal and Lacina were second-team choices in both. Dakota Schmidt, a junior linebacker, made the third team for the Pirates on the coaches picks after he led them with 112 tackles (7 for loss) to go with three sacks and two fumble recoveries, both of which were in the end zone for touchdowns.
Park Hill South’s Springer was a first team defensive back on the coaches list but also made the second team as a wide receiver. He posted team-highs of 48 catches, 673 yards and seven touchdowns after becoming quarterback Zach Suchanick’s main target after Thomas’ injury in Week 5.
Springer also had 274 yards rushing and five scores on the ground as a versatile threat for coach Mike Sharp.
Pitts was the coaches’ first-team punter in Class 5, while Becker made the third team. Payton Ireland, a senior linebacker, made the second team with 89 tackles (five for loss), three sacks, three fumbles recovered and two fumbles forced. He returned two of the three fumbles for touchdowns — both in the loss to Staley.
Park Hill South’s Everett Horton, a senior defensive back, made the third team as a defensive back on the coaches’ list with 79 tackles, one sack, one interception and two fumble recoveries.
North Platte’s French was second-team defensive back on both lists, while West Platte senior Cameron Johnson made the coaches’ third team in Class 1 despite an injury filled season that ended with him out of action in a Class 1 District 7 first round loss to Plattsburg.
A two-time choice as a defensive lineman, Johnson played the whole season with a torn ACL not discovered until late in the season. West Platte and North Platte both went 2-8.
Graves, Wilson and Sampson were all first-team picks for Park Hill on both the coaches and media lists. Graves won the defensive player of the year honor from the coaches in Class 6.
FOOTBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
MISSOURI FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE
CLASS 6
First team
LB — Seven Wilson, sr., Park Hill; Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill; K — Parker Sampson, sr., Park Hill
Defensive player of the year — Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill
CLASS 5
First team
DB — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South; P — Kyle Pitts, sr., Park Hill South
Second team
WR — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South; LB — Peyton Ireland, sr., Park Hill South
Third team
OL — Ben Becker, jr., Park Hill South; DB — Everett Horton, sr., Park Hill South
CLASS 4
First team
OL — Derek Kohler, sr., Platte County
Second team
QB — Justin Mitchell, sr., Platte County; DB — Kevin Neal, sr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, jr., Platte County
Third team
LB — Dakota Schmidt, jr., Platte County
MISSOURI MEDIA ALL-STATE
CLASS 6
First team
LB — Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill; Seven Wilson, sr., Park Hill; K — Parker Sampson, sr., Park Hill
CLASS 5
First team
DB — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South; P — Kyle Pitts, sr., Park Hill South
Second team
OL — Ben Becker, jr., Park Hill South
CLASS 4
First team
WR — TJ Guillory, sr., Platte County; OL — Derek Kohler, sr., Platte County
Second team
QB — Justin Mitchell, sr., Platte County; RB — Mike McNair, sr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, jr., Platte County; DB — Kevin Neal, sr., Platte County
CLASS 1
Second team
DB — Ben French, sr., North Platte
Third team
DL — Cameron Johnson, sr., West Platte
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE BLUE DIVISION
First team
QB — Justin Mitchell, sr., Platte County; RB — Mike McNair, sr., Platte County; WR — TJ Guillory, sr., Platte County; OL — Derek Kohler, sr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, jr., Platte County; DL — Mike Smith, jr., Platte County; LB — Dakota Schmidt, jr., Platte County; DB — Kevin Neal, sr., Platte County
Second team
WR — John Watts, jr., Platte County; OL — Austin Gammill, sr., Platte County; DB — Kobe Cummings, jr., Platte County
Honorable mention
OL — Casey Jumps, sr., Platte County; WR — Carter Nugent, sr., Platte County; DL — Sage Smart, jr., Platte County; Austin Gammill, sr., Platte County; LB — Austin Shoemaker, sr., Platte County; DB — JP Post, jr., Platte County
Co-offensive player of the year — Justin Mitchell, sr., Platte County
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE GOLD DIVISION
First team
K — Parker Sampson, sr., Park Hill*; LB — Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill; Seven Wilson, sr., Park Hill; DB — Devin Haney, jr., Park Hill
Second team
QB — Billy Maples, jr., Park Hill; RB — Dorian Clayton, jr., Park Hill; WR — Ronnie Bell, jr., Park Hill; DJ Johnson, jr., Park Hill; OL — Delon Morrow, sr., Park Hill
Honorable mention
WR — Quinton Harris, sr., Park Hill; Joe Webb, so., Park Hill; OL — Nate Smith, sr., Park Hill; Bret Hooten, jr., Park Hill; Cory Reiter, so., Park Hill; LB — T.J. Hullaby, sr., Park Hill; Jarret Ross, jr., Park Hill; Zach Suppes, sr., Park Hill; DB — Brent Woods, sr., Park Hill; Kolby Heinerikson, so, Park Hill; DL — Dalon Davis, so., Park Hill; Johnny Wilson, fr., Park Hill
Defensive player of the year — Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill
* — unanimous selection
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE RED DIVISION
First team
WR — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South*; OL — Ben Becker, jr., Park Hill South*; A — Caeden Bowen, sr., Park Hill South; DL — Nick King, sr., Park Hill South; LB — Payton Ireland, sr., Park Hill South; Connor Campbell, sr., Park Hill South; DB — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South; Everett Horton, sr., Park Hill South; K — Stephen Personelli, jr., Park Hill South; P — Kyle Pitts, sr., Park Hill South
Second team
QB — Zach Suchanick, sr., Park Hill South; RB — Emanuel Butler, sr., Park Hill South; OL — Noah Salsbury, sr., Park Hill South; Chris Carpenter, sr., Park Hill South; LB — Jake Karns, sr., Park Hill South
Honorable mention
RB — Sam Beuerlein, so., Park Hill South; TE — Trace Weatherford, sr., Park Hill South; OL — Christian Holferty, jr., Park Hill South; DL — Trace Weatherford, sr., Park Hill South; Cole Hannah, sr., Park Hill South; LB — Kevin Nollet, sr., Park Hill South; DB — Peyton Murray, so., Park Hill South; Braeden Denney, so., Park Hill South
Defensive player of the year — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South
Coach of the year — Mike Sharp, Park Hill South
* — unanimous selection
ALL-KCI CONFERENCE
First team
DE — Cameron Johnson, sr., West Platte
Second team
RB — Kyle Tabaka, sr., West Platte; Ben French, sr., North Platte; G — Cameron Johnson, sr., West Platte; LB — Remington Wilson, sr., North Platte; Kyle Tabaka, sr., West Platte; S — Ben French, sr., North Platte; P — Gavin Davis, so., West Platte
Honorable mention
T — Cole Whalen, jr., West Platte; Bart Owens, jr., North Platte; WR — Alec Carson, sr., West Platte; DT — Chase Chesnut, so., North Platte; DE — Van French, jr., North Platte; DB — Alec Carson, sr., West Platte
MEDIA ALL-NORTHWEST DISTRICT
Class 1
RB — Ben French, sr., North Platte
ALL-CLASS 1 DISTRICT 7
OL — Bart Owens, jr., North Platte; RB — Ben French, sr., North Platte; Kyle Tabaka, sr., West Platte; KR — Ben French, sr., North Platte; DL — Cameron Johnson, sr., West Platte; LB — Remington Wilson, sr., North Platte; Quinn Johnson, sr., West Platte; DB — Ben French, sr., North Platte; Alec Carson, sr., West Platte
ALL-CLASS 4 DISTRICT 8
OL — Austin Gammill, sr., Platte County; Derek Kohler, sr., Platte County; QB — Justin Mitchell, sr., Platte County; RB — Mike McNair, sr., Platte County; WR — TJ Guillory, sr., Platte County; K — Parker Lacina, jr., Platte County; DL — Mike Smith, jr., Platte County; LB — Dakota Schmidt, jr., Platte County; DB — Kevin Neal, sr., Platte County
ALL-CLASS 5 DISTRICT 7
QB — Zach Suchanick, sr., Park Hill South; RB — Emanuel Butler, sr., Park Hill South; Caeden Bowen, sr., Park Hill South; WR — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South; OL — Ben Becker, jr., Park Hill South; Chris Carpenter, sr., Park Hill South; LB — Connor Campbell, jr., Park Hill South; Payton Ireland, sr., Park Hill South; DB — Everett Horton, sr., Park Hill South; P — Kyle Pitts, sr., Park Hill South
ALL-CLASS 6 DISTRICT 4
QB — Billy Maples, jr., Park Hill; K — Parker Sampson, sr., Park Hill; LB — Seven Wilson, sr., Park Hill; Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill; DB — Devin Haney, jr., Park Hil
BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD WINNER
Best big class lineman/LB in Kansas City
LB — Chester Graves, sr., Park HIll
SIMONE AWARD FINALIST
Best big class player in Kansas City
LB — Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill
BOBBY BELL AWARD FINALIST
Best small class lineman/LB in Kansas City
OL — Derek Kohler, sr., Platte County
ALL-SIMONE TEAM
Best players in KC Metro area
QB — Justin Mitchell, sr., Platte County; OL — Ben Becker, jr., Park Hill South; Derek Kohler, sr., Platte County; DL — Chester Graves, sr., Park Hill; LB — Seven Wilson, sr., Park Hill; DB — Jake Springer, sr., Park Hill South