West Platte didn’t open KCI Conference play with a win, and the task doesn’t get any easier in Week 4.
East Buchanan threw for 400 yards in 36-6 win Friday, Sept. 1 at Gower, Mo. in the league opener for both teams. Having dropped two straight, West Platte (1-2) now prepares to host Class 2 Lathrop (3-0), coming off a 21-20 upset of Class 1 No. 1-ranked Hamilton.
Lathrop, ranked No. 8 in this week’s Class 2 media poll, has won two straight in the series with West Platte, which went winless in KCI play a year ago.
West Platte remains at No. 4 in the most recent Class 1 District 7 standings after losing to the bracket’s current No. 3 seed.
East Buchanan put up 30 points in the first half and put up big passing numbers while completely shutting down West Platte through the air. Noah Johnson, a junior, failed to complete a pass in 14 attempts and ended up with a pair of interceptions — one week after his best performance of the season in a loss to Class 1 District 7 No. 2 seed Wellington-Napoleon.
West Platte ended up with more than 250 yards of offense — all on the ground.
Tyler Schottel went 31-for-38 for 400 yards but just two touchdowns in the win for East Buchanan. He started the scoring with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Colin Archdekin, and the passing game set up short touchdown runs for Schottel and Nick Arnoldto expand the lead to 22-0 by early in the second quarter.
West Platte responded with its only score — a 75-yard touchdown run for senior running back Brayan Rodriguez, who led the Bluejays with 136 yards on 12 carries.
East Buchanan went ahead 30-6 at halftime after a late touchdown run and two-point conversion. Schottel added his second touchdown pass late in the third quarter — this one 19 yards to Seth Kenagy (eight catches, 115 yards) for the game’s final points.
Gavin Davis added 77 yards on 14 carries for West Platte’s run offense, while Johnson ran 17 times for 62 yards. Davis also recorded the Bluejays’ first interception of the season on defense.