Photo Credit: Ryan EdwardsEach year there is a team destined for greatness.
This year, it just happened to be Platte County.
The Pirates — from the beginning of the season to the end — were one of the best, if not the best team in Class 5, if not the entire state.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Platte County was led by junior quarterback Rocco Marriott. Marriott finished the season with 3,084 yards and 39 touchdowns, while completing 67 percent of his passes. He also carried the play 92 times for 622 yards, scoring 19 touchdowns.
Marriott put on a show all season, a season that culminated in the Pirates winning their first state championship since 2002, and the fourth in school history, when they defeated Jefferson City Helias 49-14.
Yes, the offense may have been the talking point this season, but the defense really helped take Platte County over the top.
The Pirates defense pitched three shutouts and allowed a team to score 30 points just once this season — against MICDS in the semifinals — which happened to be the one of the toughest tests they faced all season. It didn’t seem to matter; the Pirates always had an answer.
Each team Platte County played this season seemed outmatched, in every facet. The Pirates were that good. And no one was going to slow them down. Especially with the way that Marriott played this season.
I wouldn’t expect the Pirates to take a step back next year, either. They return Marriott and one his favorite targets in Jack Utz, not to mention several key pieces on defense.
The only question is, how does Platte County handle the pressure of being the team to beat next season?
Personally, I think they’ll handle the pressure of being the defending champion.
