Platte County’s bounceback 2023 season resulted in a trio of seniors earning selections on the Missouri Football Coaches Association (MFCA) Class 5 all-state lists. Muyonta Maxwell (offensive line) and Tucker McDowell (defensive line) both made the second team, while Seth Martin (linebacker) ended up on the third team.
All three were first-time honorees.
A three-year starter who received limited time as a freshman, Maxwell anchored Platte County’s offensive line the past two years as a left tackle. The Pirates averaged nearly 30 points per game this season, while accruing a 9-3 record.
Platte County totaled 3,718 yards of offense in 12 games with sophomore quarterback Rocco Marriott throwing for 1,976 (11th best single season in program history) and sophomore running back Adam Gisler gaining 1,254 on the ground (ninth best single season in program history).
The last offensive lineman to earn all-state honors for Platte County was Trey Butcher (second team, 2020).
Hampered by injuries the past two seasons, McDowell emerged as the key piece up front for a disruptive defense that forced 29 turnovers. He finished 2023 with 31 tackles plus a team-high 15 for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered, two passes defensed and an interception, which came on an option pitch against Oak Park.
A head injury suffered in a Class 5 District 8 semifinal win over Fort Osage kept McDowell out of the championship game loss to Grain Valley that ended Platte County’s season. He had a season-high five tackles for loss in a Week 3 win over North Kansas City and two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception in the Oak Park game two weeks later.
McDowell played his freshman season at Lafayette (St. Joseph) for his father Eric McDowell, now a part of Platte county’s coaching staff and a two-time MFCA all-state selection at Savannah in both Class 4A and 3A (1997 and 1998). Tucker McDowell finished his Pirates career with six sacks, 18 tackles for loss, three fumbles recovered and two fumbles forced.
Martin transferred to Platte County from Northland Christian where he played quarterback and safety, but state eligibility rules limited him to just one year on varsity with the Pirates. He played a versatile role as an outside linebacker/edge rusher and totaled 43 tackles plus eight for loss, 6 1/2 pass breakups, 2 1/2 sacks and two fumbles recovered.
A starter in all 12 games, Martin recorded six tackles for loss vs. North Kansas City and had three tackles plus one for loss, a fumble recovery and a sack in a win over Belton.
Platte County rebounded from a 5-6 record in 2022 — the program’s first losing season in a decade — to hit at least eight wins for the ninth time since 2014. The Pirates opened with back-to-back wins over Class 4 rivals Kearney (the eventual state champion) and Smithville and then rebounded from back-to-back losses to Grain Valley and Oak Park to reel off a six-game winning streak.
Finishing second in the Suburban Conference White Division, Platte County made the district title game for an eighth time in nine seasons but came up short of the first playoff appearance since the second of two straight Show-Me Bowl appearances. The Pirates were voted No. 9 in the final Class 5 Missouri media state poll.
Platte County accrued 35 total wins over the past four years.
PLATTE COUNTY POSTSEASON HONORS
Missouri Football Coaches Association
Class 5 All-State
Second Team
OL — Muyonta Maxwell, Sr.; DL — Tucker McDowell, Sr.
Third Team
LB — Seth Martin, Sr.
All-Class 5 District 8
Offense
OL — Muyonta Maxwell, Sr.; QB — Rocco Marriott, So.; RB — Adam Gisler; WR — Dawsen Mizell, Sr.
Defense
DB — Jordan Burnett, Sr.; DL — Tucker McDowell, Sr.; LB — Seth Martin, Sr.; Darrell Smith, Jr.
All-Suburban Conference White Division
Offense
First Team
RB — Adam Gisler, So.; WR — Dawsen Mizell, Sr.; OL — Muyonta Maxwell, Sr.; PR/KR — Tres Baskerville, So.
Second Team
QB — Rocco Marriott, So.; WR — Tres Baskerville, So.; Braiden Stevens, So.; OL — Quinn Lightle, So.; Riley Hixson, Jr.; K — Jackson Goodale, So.
Honorable Mention
TE — Brooks Hall, So.; Jack Utz, So.; OL — Becker Grego, Sr.; Gage Fulk, Sr.
Defense
First Team
DL — Tucker McDowell, Sr.; LB — Seth Martin, Sr.; Darrell Smith, Sr.; DB — Jordan Burnett, Sr.
Second Team
DL — Kameron Doyle, Jr.; DB — Montez Clemons, Jr.; Ty Christopher, So.
Honorable Mention
DL — Archie Wesley, Jr.; LB — Cobe Pollard, Jr.; DB — Ayden Watts, Sr.
