No surprise Platte County’s defense earned all of the Pirates’ honors on the Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 5 all-state teams, released in December.
Despite losing to Fort Osage in the Class 5 District 8 title game, Platte County garnered three selections with senior linebacker Trevor Scott a repeat first-team pick and senior defensive end Jaydon Walls and junior cornerback Garrett Smith-Dean both on the second team. The Pirates finished 9-3 overall after reaching the state championship game in 2019 (Class 4) and 2020 (Class 5).
Platte County allowed 20 or more points in all three losses (42-14 in the season opener at Park Hill South, 20-10 to Smithville in Suburban Conference Blue Division play and 22-20 at Fort Osage). The Pirates yielded one score or fewer in 8 of the other nine games, including shutouts of Ruskin, Winnetonka and North Kansas City.
The final four weeks of the regular season saw opponents score just 11 points total.
Signed to Division I South Dakota State, Scott anchored the Platte County defense from his linebacker spot next to fellow senior Blaine Keuhn in the 4-2-5 formation. He recorded team-highs of 83 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles along with six sacks and a fumble recovery in his senior season,
Scott started the final 45 games at linebacker, beginning with the regular season finale of his freshman campaign in 2018. He totaled 285 tackles (39 1/2 for loss), 25 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception, which he returned for the lone touchdown of his career as a sophomore in a blowout of Kearney that ended a long losing streak to one of Platte County’s biggest rivals.
In addition to being a two-time Suburban Conference Blue Division defensive player of the year and claiming shares of league titles in 2019 and 2020, Scott also made the All-Simone Team as a junior and senior at linebacker in recognition of his spot as one of the top players in the Kansas City region. He also made the finalist list for the Bobby Bell Award, given to the top lineman or linebacker in small schools for the metro area.
Scott played a key role in Platte County reaching the 2019 Class 4 Show-Me Bowl and the 2020 Class 5 Show-Me Bowl.
Walls took a longer path to his all-state season. He missed almost his entire sophomore campaign to a shoulder injury after going into 2019 as a potential contributor at linebacker or defensive line but plugged in as a starter at defensive end as a junior, recording 45 tackles (13 for loss) and 4 1/2 sacks on a deep unit up front tor the Pirates during a state runnerup season.
As a senior, Walls became the dominant force on another strong collection that included junior Division I recruit Chandavian Bradley.
Walls finished with a team-high 8 1/2 sacks along with 49 tackles (17 for loss) and two safeties, both recorded against Ruskin. He also blocked a kick and commanded more and more attention from opposing offensive lines as the season continued.
A second-year starter at cornerback, Smith-Dean developed into an undersized but lockdown option on one side of the field. He led Platte County with six interceptions and 11 pass breakups and returned two of the picks for scores.
Smith-Dean also added 31 tackles (five for loss) while committing only two penalties. His career totals currently sit at 10 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns, and he will be one of just five returning starters on the defensive side of the ball in 2022 for the Pirates.
POSTSEASON HONORS
Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State
Defense
Class 5
First Team
LB — Trevor Scott, Sr.
Second Team
DE — Jaydon Walls, Sr.; DB — Garrett Smith-Dean, Jr.
All-Class 5 District 8
Offense
WR — Carter Salzman, Jr.; OL — Joe Nicholson, Sr.; K — Cole Rhoden, Sr.
Defense
DL — Jaydon Walls, Sr. LB — Trevor Scott, Sr.; Blaine Keuhn, Sr. DB — Garrett Smith, Dean, Jr.; Cade Fowler, Sr.; Cameron Wolfe, Jr.
All-Suburban Conference Blue Division
First Team
Offense
WR — Carter Salzman, Jr. OL — Joe Nicholson, Sr. K — Cole Rhoden, Sr.
Defense
DL — Jaydon Walls, Sr.; Chandavian Bradley, Jr. LB — Trevor Scott, Sr.; Blaine Keuhn, Sr. DB — Garrett Smith-Dean, Jr.; Cade Fowler, Sr. P — Cole Rhoden, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year — Trevor Scott, Sr.
Second Team
Offense
QB — Jared Parsons, Sr. RB — Nate Walls, Sr. OL — Muyonta Maxwell, So.
Honorable Mention
Offense
WR — Cole Rhoden, Sr. TE — Brody Fulk, Sr. OL — Connor Harmon, Sr. RB — Ben McDaniel, Sr.
Defense
DB — Cameron Wolfe, Sr. DB — Dylan Mitchell, Sr.; Landon Fulk, Sr.
