Savannah is first district
victim for unbeaten PC
by Tad
Brewer
Landmark reporter
Platte County stomped conference rival Savannah 48-7,
in both teams' first football game of district action.
The game started with Platte County receiving the opening
kickoff for the first time this season. The Pirates then
proceeded to march down the field past Savannah’s
defense for 63 yards on 8 plays.
Then senior quarterback Robbie Campbell held onto the
ball and rushed into the end zone from two yards out,
with 9:05 remaining in the first quarter, giving Platte
County the early lead. Junior Nick Jaros converted the
extra point giving the Pirates a 7-0 lead.
The Platte County defense held its ground against a run-centered
Savage offense. The Pirates eventually forced Savannah
to punt the ball away.
The Savannah punter nearly missed getting the ball off
after a bad snap. Senior David Poolman received the punt
and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Jaros made the
extra point, and gave the Pirates a 14-0 lead, silencing
the Savannah crowd with 6:26 remaining. That was Platte
County’s second punt return for a touchdown in as
many weeks.
The Pirates' defense was once again able to make a strong
defensive hold and force Savannah to punt it away again.
Platte County moved the ball down the field past the
Savage defense. Missouri’s second all-time leading
rusher, senior halfback Zach Sherman rushed the ball into
the end zone from eight yards out with 10:23 remaining
in the second quarter. Jaros made the extra point and
gave the Pirates a 21-0 lead at Savannah.
Yet another defensive stand was made by Platte County
once the Savages received the ball again. Savannah was
able to pick up little yardage.
Once the Pirates received the ball again, they gained
13 yards on 4 plays. But, on the fifth play of the drive,
Platte County was able to score yet another touchdown.
The play started when Sherman received the ball like an
average sweep, but Sherman then handed the ball off to
senior wide receiver Chase Verdoorn on a reverse, who
went 40 yards for a touchdown. Jaros converted the kick
and gave Platte County a 28-0 lead with 6:10 remaining
in the half.
The next drive for Savannah was cut short after Verdoorn
forced a fumble that was recovered by Platte County juniors
Travis Frogge and Sean O’Connor.
After the fumble recovery, Platte County again proceeded
to march the ball downfield passed Savannah. On the sixth
play of the drive, Sherman rushed into the end zone from
15 yards out, concluding a 44-yard drive with 1:00 left
in the half. The extra point attempt failed, but the Pirates
still had a 34-0 lead going into halftime.
Platte County kicked the ball off to Savannah to begin
the second half. The kick returner for the Savages returned
the ball 87 yards for a touchdown to open the third quarter.
Savannah narrowly converted the extra point to make the
score 34-7 with 11:47 left in the quarter.
Only 3 plays after receiving the kickoff from Savannah,
Sherman ran the ball 48 yards for another Platte County
touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Pirates now
had a 41-7 lead over the Savages with 10:31 remaining
in the third quarter.
For yet another series, Platte County was able to stifle
Savannah’s rushing game and force them to punt the
ball away again.
Campbell found the end zone again for the Pirates with
his second two-yard touchdown rush of the night. The extra
point was good, and concluded a 5-play, 55-yard drive,
giving the Pirates a 48-7 lead over Savannah with 5:47
left in the game.
That was the last score for either team on the night.
The only excitement that came in the fourth quarter was
a 43-yard rush by sophomore John Hart.
Platte County ended the night with 424 yards of total
offense on the night, compared to Savannah’s 161
total yards on the night. The ground accounted for 371
of the Pirates yards, while 53 came through the air.
Campbell was 3-3 passing for 53 yards, with all of the
receptions made by Verdoorn.
The rushers for Platte County included Sherman with 220
yards, on 21 attempts, with 3 touchdowns; Hart had 1 rush
for 43 yards; Verdoorn had 1 rush for 40 yards and a touchdown;
junior Matt Prout had 6 rushes for 28 yards; senior Carl
Foreman had 16 yards on 3 rushes; junior Aaron Bernard
had 2 rushes for 12 yards; senior Richard Clarkson had
six yards on three rushes; Campbell had two rushes for
four yards and two touchdowns; and sophomore Brian Lister
had one rush for three yards.
The leading tacklers for Platte County included O’Connor
with nine, Verdoorn with eight, junior Cory Williams with
seven, Prout with six and Jaros and Frogge with five apiece.
O’Connor and Frogge had one joint fumble recovery
and senior Kevin Remmers also had a fumble recovery.
Platte County moved to 8-0 on the year, and 1-0 in districts
with their 48-7 victory over Savannah.
The Pirates travel to Cameron on Oct. 26. Cameron has
not won a game in two years and Platte County looks to
continue this streak.
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