Class 5 Show-Me Bowl Breakdown: Platte County (13-0) vs. Helias (12-1)

In two previous trips to the state championship game under coach Bill Utz, Platte County went in as an acknowledged underdog with a blemished record against a daunting opponent. The Pirates were overwhelmed in both instances — 49-0 against Webb City in the 2019 Class 4 Show-Me Bowl and 42-7 against Jackson the following year after making an impressive run following a move up to Class 5.

The third time around looks a bit different.

Platte County (13-0) seeks to end a drought of a little more than two decades since the program’s last state title in the Class 5 Show-Me Bowl starting at 7 p.m. Saturday night against Helias (12-1). The matchup at Faurot Field on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia features two teams accustomed to winning over the past decade with similar identities on both sides of the ball.

At worst, the matchup looks even with Platte County carrying the burden of an unbeaten record and No. 2 spot in the final Class 5 Missouri Media poll before the start of the postseason. The Pirates became the de facto favorite following top-ranked Cardinal Ritter’s loss in the quarterfinals.

Just two years removed from a rare losing record, Platte County knew last year’s loss in the Class 5 District 8 championship game represented a beginning and not an end.

“They had some expectations to start with,” Utz said. “Last year, we were in a situation where we played pretty decent and ended the season the way we did. Ever since that point, these guys coming back have had a drive that’s just a little different. We have a good mesh of kids, really. They’ve done a really good job of coming together and playing team football, and yeah, this is the expectation set so they’ve got to that point and now we get to go down and finish off.”

No. 4-ranked Helias enters off of a dramatic 14-13 comeback victory in the other Class 5 semifinal against Lafayette (Wildwood), which handled Cardinal Ritter in the previous round. The Crusaders overcame a 13-point deficit with one touchdown right before halftime off of a turnover and the other on a sustained drive of only run plays early in the second half.

Lafayette (12-2) lost star senior quarterback Jack Behl to an injury early in the fourth quarter but still appeared to have a chance to take the lead with about 5 minutes left. However, a controversial play saw a Helias defender jump into the neutral zone as the Lancers went to snap the ball on a chip-shot field goal attempt. The majority of players froze, but the Crusaders blocked an awkward looking kick to preserve the one-point lead and held on from there.

Helias engineered a similar comeback in the quarterfinal round, scoring 14 unanswered against Republic (10-3) to force overtime. The Crusaders held on defense and kicked a field goal for a 24-21 victory.

Back in the state championship game for the first time since winning a Class 4 title in 2020, Helias has Crusaders have won eight straight since their lone loss.

Platte County reached the state semifinals for the fourth time in eight seasons and has reached the state title game in the last three trips. Following the loss to Jackson in the 2020 Class 5 Show-Me Bowl, the Pirates were bounced in the Class 5 District 8 championship game in 2021 then went 5-6 in 2022.

Last year, Platte County turned to a large contingent of inexperienced but talented sophomores along with a concentrated but small class of seniors and seasoned juniors. The Pirates finished 9-3 overall and nearly reversed the result of a regular season loss to Grain Valley in a thrilling Class 5 District 8 championship game. The experience paid dividends this season, even with increased expectations and a top-three state ranking every week.

“We trust in ourselves,” Platte County senior wide receiver Lane Webb said. “Coaches talk about it all the time. We’ve got to trust in the ones around us. We’re the true family. There was a lot of noise coming last season. We were too young, stuff like that, but now we’re here: undefeated and going to the ‘chip. That’s what’s up.”

Both teams are seeking to win a fourth state title. Helias’ came in 2020, 1992 and 1984, and the Crusaders also have six runnerup finishes.

Platte County went to the Class 3A/3 semifinals each year from 1999-2002 with the last three of those seasons resulting in undefeated state championships under hall of fame coach Chip Sherman. The Pirates didn’t have another Show-Me Bowl appearance until 2019 and 2020 when they achieved the rare accomplishment of going back-to-back years while going up one classification in the second.

Platte County lost in the 2006 Class 3 semifinals to Harrisonville and made the program’s first trip to that round under Utz in 2017. The Pirates lost by three points to Webb City in the first of four playoff matchups between the two teams over the next eight seasons. The Cardinals won the first two.

Platte County evened the series with a semifinal win in 2020 and then this year’s quarerfinal victory.

WHEN PLATTE COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Helias has allowed more than 21 points just twice this season — a 29-22 overtime loss to Class 6 quarterfinalist Rock Bridge and a 90-28 drubbing of Hickman that actually ended early in the fourth quarter after a player suffered a serious injury with the score overwhelmingly lopsided. The Crusaders’ linebacker trio of juniors Eli Homan (118 tackles) and Ben Lanigan (90 tackles) and senior Hayden Schlup (106) lead the way, while senior defensive lineman Easton Lueckenhoff recorded five of the team’s 23 sacks. Logan Hillman, a junior defensive back, has a team-high six interceptions.

Conversely, Platte County averages nearly 50 points per game and held a running clock at some point during 10 of 13 games — the exceptions back-to-back wins in Weeks 2 and 3 against Grain Valley (52-21) and Fort Osage (28-13) and Saturday’s 44-30 win over MICDS (11-3) in their state semifinal. The Pirates have shown an ability to adjust to an opponent’s defensive game plan with junior quarterback Rocco Marriott at 37 passing touchdowns and combining with the running back trio of Dayton Doll and Isaiah Seymour and junior Adam Gisler for 45 rushing touchdowns.

Marriott has completed at least 10 passes to seven different receivers — junior wide receivers Braiden Stevens (42), Tres Baskerville (39) and Ty Christopher (22) and Webb (12); Doll (13); and junior tight ends Jack Utz (12) and Brooks Hall (11). While Stevens enters with team-highs in receptions and receiving touchdowns (14), Baskerville leads the Pirates with 956 yards to go with nine scores. Christopher has eight touchdowns and 367 yards.

Platte County also benefits from continuity on the offensive line with seniors Riley Hixson (center), Drew Doll (right guard) and Owen Rawling (right tackle) plus junior Quinn Lightle (left tackle) having started every game at the same position. Gus Keeton, another senior, opened at left guard before suffering a knee injury in Week 5 against Belton.

For the next six games, Platte County junior Michael Poncavage started at left guard, but he missed the past two games with a head injury, putting Keeton back in the role.

The results have been consistent with Marriott throwing two or more touchdown passes and having at least one rushing score in 12 of 13 games. He needs just one more passing touchdown to tie Tanner Clarkson’s single-season record of 38 and two to break the mark, having already taken the career mark at 62 — and counting — after passing Justin Mitchell’s 59 from 2013-16 in a 35-0 quarterfinal win over Webb City.

Platte County’s rushing production can come from multiple spots. Gisler sits at an efficient 681 yards on just 70 carries, while Doll sits at 618 yards on 108 attempts. Marriott leads the Pirates with 17 rushing touchdowns and has gained 570 yards.

A year ago, Gisler ran for more than 1,300 yards in one of the best rushing seasons in program history with Doll missing all but half of one game with a shoulder injury. Gisler missed three games with a shoulder injury and Doll one with a toe injury this season. Combined with dominant victories, Seymour ended up with 373 yards and seven touchdowns.

Gisler has at least one rushing score in eight straight games since returning from injury and 12 total, while Doll has nine more. Each has another score receiving.

WHEN HELIAS HAS THE BALL

Outside of the blowout against Hickman, Helias’ scoring numbers haven’t been as impressive, the offense’s yardage totals have been similar. The Crusaders have just under 2,400 rushing with junior quarterback Austin Weaver (706, four TDs) with senior running backs CJ Howell (471 yards, five TDs) and Alex Marberry (443 yards, seven TDs) nearly equal and junior fullback Brady Fann (340 yards, 14 TDs) taking the majority of carries on the goal line.

Marberry has missed time with multiple injuries and did not play in either of Helias’ playoff wins.

Weaver has completed 121 of 204 passing attempts for another 2,113 yards with 25 touchdowns and just four interceptions and speeds the ball to senior wide receiver Sam Lopez (27 catches, 436 yards, seven TDs), Howell (26 catches, 447 yards, five TDs), senior tight end Luke Swan (16 catches, 383 yards, five TDs) and Hillman (11 catches, 342 yards, three TDs). The Crusaders scored 24 or more in all but two games, committing four turnovers in the one-point semifinal win over Lafayette.

Platte County starts 10 seniors on a deep defense with nearly two dozen consistent contributors this season. MICDS’ 30 points were a season-high allowed for the Pirates, who led by 21 three different times in the second half of what ended up a fairly comfortable victory.

Using a variety of looks out of a 4-2-5 formation, Platte County senior defensive tackle Kameron Doyle (35 tackles, nine for loss, three sacks) anchors the defense in a lot of ways, either making plays himself or freeing up others. The Pirates’ deep defensive line rotation includes senior Jordan Miller (five tackles for loss) in the middle next to Doyle and senior Archie Wesley (11 tackles for loss) and Cale Buntz (team-high 5 1/2 sacks) on the ends.

However, Platte County junior defensive tackle Cole Johnson (three forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered) and sophomore defensive end Brody Hawk (4 1/2 sacks) in particular have made a big impact in rotational and situational opportunities. The Pirates’ two true linebackers have been steady with Cobe Pollard, a third-year starter, at 73 tackles (12 for loss) while Brock Fowler adds 63 tackles and four sacks.

Fowler transferred to Platte County after three years at Staley and gave additional flexibility to the personnel.

Darrell Smith moved to strong safety after two years at linebacker and responded with another standout season. He leads the Pirates with 77 tackles with a team-high 16 for loss plus two fumbles forced and two fumbles recovered.

Platte County senior Trevor Hay shifted back to free safety this season and has grabbed all seven of his team-best seven interceptions in the last eight games, including three in a 77-7 homecoming win over Truman to start the run. He returned two of those for scores and added another pick-six in the Class 5 District 8 semifinals against Central (St. Joseph). Caden McGhee, the Pirates’ third senior safety, brings a versatile skillset, as well, with 59 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks.

With three shutouts, Platte County’s defense seems more prone to giving up big plays than sustained drives. The large leads in almost every game leads to a lot of passing opportunities for opponents to test senior cornerbacks Montez Clemons (a three-year contributor and converted safety) and Bronson Ryan, who is playing his first season of tackle football.

Clemons (46 tackles, three forced fumbles) and Ryan (44 tackles, eight pass breakups, one interception) both provide solid run support, and Platte County occasionally uses sophomore Jordan Moore in obvious passing situations. Ryan won the starting job opposite of Clemons after senior Taylor Stambersky suffered a season-ending foot injury in a practice after a Week 1 win over William Chrisman.