West Platte grabbed an early lead and jumped back into the game early in the second half.
Plattsburg’s running attack ended up being too much in a 41-21 victory Friday, Oct. 6 in Plattsburg, Mo. The Tigers ran for more than 400 yards and overcame a pair of costly turnovers to win the matchup between KCI Conference and Class 1 District 7 foes.
West Platte (1-7) dropped a seventh straight and missed a chance to make up some ground in the district standings.
The start couldn’t have been better after Plattsburg fumbled the opening kickoff. West Platte junior Gavin Davis recovered, and the Bluejays turned the short field into junior quarterback Noah Johnson’s 6-yard touchdown run plus Davis’ two-point run to make it 8-0.
Plattsburg’s first possession ended with a Cole Vandel interception, and after holding, the Tigers’ second drive ended with four plays inside West Platte’s 5-yard line. The Bluejays held on all four and maintained the 8-0 lead after the first quarter.
Matthew Graham, who ran for 311 yards on 25 carries, finally broke through with a 39-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 to close Plattsburg within 8-7 early in the second quarter. He added a 60-yard touchdown run, and West Platte’s second fumble of the first half came as time expired in the second quarter.
Plattsburg’s Eyan Coldren scooped up the loose ball and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown, making it 21-8 at halftime.
West Platte came right back with a 23-yard completion to Grant Eagen setting up Davis’ 1-yard touchdown run to start the third quarter, but Plattsburg scoredtwo more unanswered touchdowns to go up 34-14. Eagen, who finished with three catches for 48 yards, added an 11-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to briefly make it a two-score game again.
Johnson finished with 59 yards passing and 99 rushing for West Platte, while Davis led the Bluejays with 119 yards on 23 carries.
West Platte remained at No. 6 in the most recent Class 1 District 7 standings while facing a trip to Class 2 Lawson in the season finale. Currently, the Bluejays would face Plattsburg again in the opening round of the postseason, but they are fractions of a point behind No. 4 Concordia (2-6) and No. 5 North Platte (2-6).