At certain points, Platte County’s defense displayed the potential to lead another memorable postseason run — even as disappointing losses mounted.
A pair of the senior standouts on the unit earned recognition on the Class 5 Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 all-state teams announced this month. Garrett Smith-Dean made it back-to-back seasons as a cornerback while defensive lineman Chandavian Bradley made his debut as a second-team pick.
The most sought-after recruit in program history, Bradley recently made his signing with the University of Tennessee official after posting 35 tackles (two for loss), two sacks and forced fumbles as a senior. He showed his versatility, lining up outside and inside up front in addition to occasionally playing strong safety as he drew the attention of opposing offenses.
Bradley also played significant snaps on offense at wide receiver as injuries piled up for Platte County this year. He finished with 12 catches for 401 yards — an astounding 33.4 yards per reception — and seven touchdowns, tied for the team lead. This included a two-catch, 112-yard, two-score performance in a 33-21 season-ending loss to Oak Park in the Class 5 District 8 semifinals.
A second-team pick as a sophomore, Smith-Dean remained at cornerback this season despite some inclination he might shift to safety. He finished with a team-high four interceptions to go with 25 tackles (three for loss) and three pass breakups.
Smith-Dean finished as a three-year starter and collected 14 career interceptions — four returned for touchdowns.
Bradley started his career as a situational pass rusher during his sophomore year and ended up with 15 sacks in three seasons along with 11 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
Platte County’s seniors started their careers mostly on the peripheral of the 2019 and 2020 runs to the Class 4 and Class 5 Show-Me Bowls resulting in back-to-back state runnerup finishes. They were part of 13 wins the past two seasons as schedule difficulty ratcheted up in wake of those breakthrough seasons.
After losing the first two games of the season to Class 4 powerhouses Kearney and Smithville by a combined 10 points, Platte County ended up with an uneven 5-6 record. The Pirates failed to reach a district title game for the first time since 2014 and posted the program’s first losing record since 2013.
All five teams Platte County lost to this season — Smithville, Kearney, Grain Valley, Oak Park and Park Hill South — made district championships game appearances. Additionally, Raytown, which the Pirates beat 31-26 in Week 6 to start a 4-1 stretch that allowed them to reach .500, played Grain Valley in the Class 5 District 7 title game.
POSTSEASON HONORS
MISSOURI FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE
Class 5
Defense
Second team
DL — Chandavian Bradley, Sr.
Third team
DB — Garrett Smith-Dean, Sr.
MFCA ALL-CLASS 5 DISTRICT 8
Offense
OL — Muyonta Maxwell, Jr.; P — Dylan Zimmerman, Sr.
Defense
DL — Chandavian Bradley, Sr.; DB — Andy McClure, Sr.; Garrett Smith-Dean, Sr.; Cameron Wolfe, Sr.
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE WHITE DIVISION
First Team
Offense
WR — Dawsen Mizell, Jr.
Defense
DL — Chandavian Bradley, Sr.; CB — Garrett Smith-Dean, Sr.
Special Teams
P — Dylan Zimmerman, Sr.
Second Team
Offense
QB — Dylan Zimmerman, Sr.; WR — Dayton Doll, So.; OL — Muyonta Maxwell, Jr.; ATHLETE — Chandavian Bradley, Sr.
Defense
DL — Kohry Woessner, Jr.; LB — Darrell Smith, So.; Cobe Pollard, So.; S — Andy McClure, Sr.
Special Teams
KR/PR — Garrett Smith-Dean, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Offense
RB — Nate Walls, Sr.; OL — Quinn Lightle, Fr.; Braden Parker, Sr.; Tyler Burch, Sr.
Defense
DL — Blake Rueckert, Sr.; Tucker McDowell, Jr.; S — Cameron Wolfe, Sr.
