Blowout win in Week 1 extends Platte County’s winning streak to 29

While doubters surely remain, Platte County still looks like Platte County — a perennial postseason contender due to established tradition.

An exceptionally dominant 56-7 victory over Winnetonka on Friday night at Pirate Stadium extended the state’s longest winning streak in encouraging fashion. The Pirates quieted at least some of the skepticism for a roster tasked with finding replacements for the starters in many notable positions after the graduation of a historic senior class that did heavy lifting to produce back-to-back Class 5 state championships over the past two seasons.

Platte County sophomore quarterback Kade Fowler debuted with four total touchdowns — two rushing and two passing — while junior running back Caleb Hill led a persistent and multi-pronged rushing attack that produced more than 250 yards on the ground. Add in senior defensive end Brody Hawk’s career effort, which included his first career touchdown on an interception in the end zone, and the Pirates were able to provide debuting first-year head coach Derek Yost with his first victory in the new role complete with a postgame water bath from the Gatorade jug to mark the occasion.

Yost then took time in addressing his players to thank them for their effort and belief in a revamped coaching staff.

“We have 85 guys that I’d want to take the field with any day,” said Yost, who became just the third head coach for Platte County since 1988 — following Chip Sherman (retired 2007) and Bill Utz (retired after last season). “I thought we had a good foundation from the summer, but you’re right. When you have so many unknown things, you just don’t know. Tonight was difficult in trying to manage my emotions, and I told my players on Wednesday that a bit of imposter syndrome set in. I was feeling a little bit of that anxiety, that vulnerability. I shared that with them, but I also said I wouldn’t want to roll with anyone else.

“This group has my back. I trust those guys, and it was tremendous for me to share that moment with them. But the players deserve all the credit.”

Platte County (1-0) earned a measure of respect from the Missouri Media Poll voters, who put the Pirates at No. 2 in the initial Class 5 rankings with one first-place vote. However, many preseason prognostications expected a potentially significant dropoff for a team more than 1,000 days removed from the most recent loss — a narrow state quarterfinal defeat at Grain Valley in 2023.

Winnetonka (0-1) expected to provide a challenge but trailed 14-0 in the second quarter and 35-7 at halftime. The Griffins were unable to produce any consistent offense, especially after junior starting quarterback Khilan Allen left the game in the first half due to an apparent neck injury.

Platte County recorded five sacks total — two from Hawk and with 1 1/2 for senior defensive tackle Kyler Parker, who shared one with sophomore Phin McMain (five tackles, two for loss). Hawk also forced a fumble that McMain, the interior starter next to Parker (two tackles for loss), recovered to set up Fowler’s second rushing touchdown of the first half that extended the Pirates’ early lead to 14-0.

Later in the second quarter, Platte County junior defensive end Greyson Reik (one tackle for loss) — also making a first career start — deflected a screen pass that Hawk (eight tackles, two for loss) snared in the end zone for a defensive touchdown to put Winnetonka down three scores. The Pirates led 28-7 at that point with the timely turnovers providing opportunities and a shot of confidence for the inexperienced roster.

“Greyson got up there, and we work tip drill all the time,” said Hawk, a third-year contributor in his second full season as a starter. “He just put it right in my hands. All props to him. I’m hoping we have 13 more (games) but (the touchdown) is really meaningful because I know those opportunities don’t happen very often.”

Winnetonka took over with 1 minute, 52 seconds left in the second quarter and went three-and-out — closing with an incompletion that kept Platte County from needing to use a timeout. The Pirates took over near midfield, and on the next snap, Fowler dropped back and uncorked a pass that hit senior wide receiver Jude Brown in the open field. He ended up with a first career touchdown after dragging a pair of defenders in the closing portion of a 57-yard scoring play.

With the success of the rushing attack, Fowler ended up going a perfect 7-for-7 for 95 yards with the first scoring pass of his career showing the potential that helped him earn the starting spot and initial opportunity to replace Rocco Marriott, a three-year starter and two-time all-state pick now at UCF. A receiver went in motion to leave Brown isolated on the right side, and he quickly beat the defense with a throw that allowed him to stay in stride on the way to the end zone.

“I’m thinking I’m going to come down with this; I’m going to take it to the house,” said Brown, who entered the season with just two catches in his career for 35 yards. “I’m going to give some momentum to my team. We already had enough, but what (about) more?”

Brown’s touchdown sent Platte County into the break with a 35-7 lead, and the second half included a majority of time with a running clock in effect — an outcome not unlike so many over the past two seasons during the current 29-game winning streak.

Platte County senior defensive back Jack Johnson (four tackles, one for loss) returned the opening kickoff of the second half near midfield. Fowler’s fourth touchdown came on a touch pass to sophomore wide receiver Owen Yates, who went around right end and scored from 5 yards out.

The first two catches of Yates’ career totaled 13 yards with the second going for his first touchdown and starting the running clock with a 42-7 lead in place.

Winnetonka went to punt on the next possession, but Johnson blocked the kick to set up another short field.

“Senior, speaking captain tonight, and he had such a big night,” Yost said of Johnson. “Tremendously proud of him, and where he’s at. He’s always a guy we’re going to be able to lean on and trust. With a last name like Johnson, I wouldn’t expect anything different.”

Hill led Platte County’s running game with 17 carries for 133 yards — just off the career-high of 145 he set last season against Belton on just four attempts. However, the big lead offered a chance for junior Brady McDaniel to gain 49 yards on eight carries plus the first touchdown of his career, a 4-yarder off of Johnson’s blocked punt with 4:14 left in the third quarter.

Eventually, Platte County senior running back Devin Smith also saw the field, breaking off a long run late in the fourth quarter initially ruled a 54-yard touchdown. Officials convened and ruled him down at the 1.

On the next snap, Platte County junior quarterback Paxton Bennett, who battled for the starting spot this offseason, saw a mishandled snap bounce back up to him. He then plowed into the end zone from a yard out to become the sixth Pirates player to score their first career touchdown in the season-opener.

Smith finished with two carries for 52 yards, while Fowler added 17 on three attempts.

“All of these kids were deserving of this opportunity,” Yost said. “These were all guys who showed up in the summer and knew exactly what it was going to take to get some steam going offensively. When you have to replace 9 or 10 starters on offense, it takes some time to get some continuity and get going, but no one blinked. I’m really proud of the way they went out and executed — top to bottom.”

Platte County’s rushing total ended up at 252 yards with Fowler taking just one sack. The Pirates debuted an entirely new offensive line with senior Cooper Koenigsfeld — the lone returning full-time starter — moved from left to right tackle. James Moiyallah, another senior, opened at left guard with junior Miller Bigus at center and senior Reece Moppin (guard) and junior Max Shuey (tackle) on the right side.

In addition, Platte County’s new tight end duo of junior Hank Marriott and freshman Braxton Seifert have a chance to factor into the new receiving corps at some point but were big factors in run blocking. They replace Brooks Hall and Jack Utz, a pair of graduated seniors now on Division I college football rosters.

“We knew we had something with the offense and the offensive line going, and I think they’re just going to continue to gain confidence and the right track and right footing,” Yost said.

While the offense lost nearly 100 percent of the 2025 yardage to graduation, Platte County expected a versatile and experienced defense to provide early stability. The Pirates forced an immediate three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, and Hill touched the ball on each of the next six plays.

The last four came on a goal-to-go situation, but a short completion from Fowler on fourth down at Winnetonka’s 5 went for just a 2-yard gain. The Griffins gained an initial first down, but on the next play, Allen appeared to land directly on the top of his head when Hawk sacked him on second down while Reik came in late to finish off the play.

In the initial aftermath, Winnetonka put dynamic senior wide receiver DJ Coleman in as a Wildcat quarterback. He ran twice before another punt on fourth down.

“We knew coming in exactly where we were going to go if we were going to go for it on fourth down,” Yost said. “Had a great conversation with the staff and full confidence in the choice. When you roll the dice like that, it sometimes works out, but also when you have a defense like you do playing behind them, there was never a concern for us at that point. The defense came right back out and picked us up, and we got into the end zone next series.”

Platte County finished the second possession early in the second quarter with Fowler running a quarterback power play to the right — a design used often last season with Marriott in key moments. Fowler scored from 9 yards out to provide the initial 7-0 lead after senior kicker Sterling Wilson made the first of his eight extra points, which pushed him to 89 for his career and moving him into fourth in the school’s all-time record book after passing both Tanner Jermain (81, 2010-11) and Tommy Grutzmacher (88, 2003-04).

Winnetonka then went to sophomore Tylir Termini at quarterback, and Hawk greeted him with a strip-sack that led to a fumble deep inside the Griffins’ own territory. McMain wrestled away possession of the ball in a pile to immediately put the ball back into red zone, and Fowler scored on the same power right run from 5 yards out.

“(Kade’s) a great guy, great player,” Brown said. “He’s a good playmaker. He can make something out of nothing. He’s adapted so well to this position.”

Platte County then faced the biggest spot of adversity when Allen reentered the game and turned a third-and-long into a touchdown that cut Minnetonka’s deficit in half. On a short completion, Coleman juked past a few potential tacklers while moving toward the home sideline, then raced 74 yards to pull the Griffins within 14-7 with 7:24 left before halftime.

Winnetonka then forced a three-and-out, and after a punt, the Griffins moved past midfield.

Hill, who also caught a team-high three passes for another 21 yards, finished off the ensuing drive with a 1-yard touchdown — the third of his career and first since a short plunge against Truman in Week 7 last season. Hawk’s interception in the end zone came just three plays later in an emphatic response to the first potential adversity of the season.

“We knew Winnetonka had some good athletes in spots, and they had that ability to be explosive,” Yost said. “We missed a couple of tackles on the play, but we came back to the guys and told them, ‘Go back to your foundation; go back to the things you know how to do.’ I thought they did an excellent job, and they were ready to roll again.”

After the one big play, Platte County’s defense still only allowed just over 100 yards total with senior linebackers Carlos Baskerville and Hank Fowler (seven tackles, one for loss apiece) a big part of slowing down the run game. In addition to Johnson at strong safety, the Pirates’ secondary also provided support and limited completions behind the disruptive defensive line.

Platte County senior safety/linebacker Maverick Troncin returned to the starting lineup after a brief cameo early last season and added five tackles, while senior safety Matt Cisco (three tackles) and the cornerback duo of senior Jordan Moore (one tackle) and junior Eric Dooley (four tackles, one for loss) were also a big part of putting the offense into possession with beneficial field position.

As the lead grew, Platte County used the opportunity to give playing time to the reserves and potential next wave of defenders. Including special teams, the contributors included senior safety/linebacker Devin Lumm (three tackles, one for loss), sophomore defensive linemen Elijah Lewis (three tackles, one for loss), Kyle McGee (two tackles) and Dante Leslie (one tackle) plus freshman linebacker Rowdy Hawk (three tackles, one for loss).

Combining defense and special teams, Platte County senior safety Brandon Reynolds and junior safety Gunner Horn made two tackles apiece. One of Horn’s went for loss, and senior cornerback Jayden Mathurin added one tackle.

“Everyone talks about our offense last year and how it was so great, which it was,” Brody Hawk said. “But they forgot about the defense, and we have seven or eight returning starters and we’re going to pull through for the offense like the offense did for us last year.”

A bigger test now awaits to extend the second-longest winning streak in program history, trailing only the 52 straight that helped produce three state titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and ended in the 2003 state playoffs in Class 3A/3.

Platte County travels to Blue Springs South, which enters at No. 6 in the first Class 6 state poll for the first meeting ever between the two teams. However, the Jaguars have actually lost two straight — an opening district matchup to rival Blue Springs after an undefeated regular season in 2025 and a 20-17 loss to defending state champion Lee’s Summit last week.

That means Blue Springs South plays the Class 6 and Class 5 state champions from the previous year in the opening two weeks of this season.

“We’ve just got to learn from all our mistakes (against Winnetonka) and forget about it and go play better next week because we’re going to need to,” Brody Hawk said.

With the Missouri State High School Activities Association not releasing postseason assignments until last Friday morning, Platte County didn’t truly know the path ahead. However, both Rockhurst (Class 6) and St. Pius X (Class 3) moved out of Class 5 District 8 after being the top completion for the Pirates last season. The new seven-team alignment in Class 5 District 8 includes Platte County, Raytown (1-0), Lincoln Prep (1-0), William Chrisman (1-0), Fort Osage (0-1), Winnetonka (0-1) and Truman (0-1).

Cardinal Ritter (1-0) earned the No. 1 ranking in the initial Class 5 media poll, and Platte County is the only ranked team in District 8, although Fort Osage earned four votes despite a Week 1 loss to Class 6 Oak Park. Grain Valley (No. 7) is the only ranked team in District 7, which sits adjacent to District 8 in the eventual Class 5 playoff bracket.

The winner of that quarterfinal would go to the state semifinals — a round Platte County has reached five times in the past nine seasons.

NOTE — Starting in 2026, Ross Martin (author of this article) began voting in the Missouri Media Poll for football