The Platte County Pirates football team racked up 539 yards of offense while holding Washburn Rural to only 160 yards of offense in a 49-20 win on Friday, Sept. 20, at Pirate Stadium.
It was the first time the Pirates faced Washburn Rural and the game featured a pregame flyover of a C-130 Hercules aircraft flown by the 180th Airlift Squadron at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph, MO.
Platte County senior Dayton Doll would not be denied the end zone in the third quarter of the Pirates’ win over Washburn Rural. Doll had two rushing touchdowns and scored on a pass play. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
Platte County Head Coach Bill Utz told The Citizen that preparing for and playing in a game from a cross state opponent was a different experience for his team.
“It was a fun week to prepare against a team we had never played before from another state,” Utz said. “I thought it was a good challenge.”
The game started rough for the Pirates offensively after getting the game’s first stop on defense. Junior quarterback Rocco Marriott threw the first of his three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, on Platte County’s third offensive play of the game. The pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and essentially became a jump ball. Less than two minutes into the contest, Platte County trailed 7-0.
Platte County defender Cale Buntz tried to get a grasp on the quarterback. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
The Pirates were able to overcome their mistakes by capitalizing on the Mistakes made by the Junior Blues. Washburn stopped Platte County on its ensuing possession and forced a punt. The door was opened for the Pirates when the punt was muffed and recovered by junior Cole Johnson at the Washburn 29-yard line. A 31-yard pass play to junior wide receiver Tres Baskerville set up the Pirates with a first and goal. Senior Dayton Doll finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. With the kick, Platte County tied the game with 7:14 left in the first period.
The Pirate defense allowed a couple of first downs to Washburn but forced a punt before the Junior Blues could reach Platte County territory. The Pirates used just over three minutes of the clock to score on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Marriott to junior wide receiver Ty Christopher with 18 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Pirates their first lead.
Platte County defender Carlos Baskerville wrapped up the Washburn runner while waiting for help to arrive. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
Platte County’s defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Washburn drive but ended up turning the ball over on downs at the Washburn 25-yard line after driving the ball. Washburn couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and gave the ball back after a big third down sack by Archie Wesley and Cale Buntz.
The Pirates’ offense got the ball back and drove into Washburn territory but was stopped when Marriott was intercepted for the second time. Marriott’s pass went into traffic in the end zone but found the hands of a Washburn defender.
Platte County’s defense got another stop, but the Pirates’ offense could not capitalize and had two touchdowns taken off the board because of a penalty. The first erased a touchdown pass to senior Lane Webb because Marriott had gone past the line of scrimmage before throwing the pass. Later in the drive, Marriott’s seven-yard run was erased on a holding call. Eventually, the Pirates settled for a 28-yard field goal attempt that was missed on the last play of the half.
The Pirates started the second half with the ball, but disaster struck early on the second play when Marriott’s pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Washburn’s extra point kick was missed, and Platte County maintained a 14-13 lead.
When it seemed like Washburn had seized some momentum, the Pirates’ offense reminded them there was still a lot of time to play, and the Pirates have shown they can make second-half adjustments. Utz said after the game there were definitely some things to look over at halftime.
Platte County wide receiver Tres Baskerville broke through a tackle by a Washburn defender during the first half of the Pirates’ win. Baskerville had six receptions for 146 yards. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
“I thought our kids actually played a little bit sloppy in the first half but then after a few corrections and a few adjustments at halftime I thought we came out and put a nice half together and got things under control,” Utz said.
The Pirates offense was the Doll Show in the third quarter. The senior scored on a 15-yard run where several tackles were broken and seemingly stopped at the five-yard line and lunged toward the goal line, barely getting the tip of the ball across to give the Pirates a 21-13 lead with the kick. Doll’s touchdown was set up by a 34-yard pass play to Baskerville.
Doll wasn’t done. The senior scored on Platte County’s next drive on a 35-yard pass where several tackles were broken along the Washburn sideline to give Platte County a two-score lead with 4:57 left in the third quarter.
On Washburn’s ensuing possession, the Pirates got their second fumble recovery of the game when Buntz and Cooper Hammontree sacked the Washburn quarterback. However, Platte County didn’t capitalize on the mistake and had a field goal attempt blocked.
Platte County’s defense forced another three and out of the Washburn offense and did capitalize on the next drive with a three-yard touchdown run by Marriott on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 35-13 with the kick.
Washburn had its best offensive drive of the game on the ensuing possession. On third down, Washburn quarterback John Hoytal threw to a wide-open receiver for a 78-yard touchdown. With the kick, Washburn pulled back to within two scores at 35-20.
Senior running back Isaiah Seymour took over in the fourth quarter and had touchdown runs of 47 yards and 34 yards to put the game out of reach. The Pirates’ defense also recovered a third fumble in the fourth quarter.
Seymour led the rushing attack with 123 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns. Doll had 121 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. Marriott completed 14 of 25 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Baskerville led receivers with 146 yards on six receptions.
Platte County will get into the familiar Suburban Conference White Division play next week with a trip to Belton followed with a trip to rival Smithville the following week. Utz said the experience of playing Washburn was not only fun but he believes it will also help the team when post season time arrives.
“It’s good practice for us,” Utz said. “You don’t have a whole lot of study, you don’t have anything other than what they’ve already done this year on data and so forth. You just got to kind of take that and react to it as it happens. That’s what you do in the playoffs. A lot of times you’ll play teams you don’t see that much of so it’s always good to get that kind of experience under your belt.”