Dominant everywhere except on the scoreboard, Platte County needed just one of its productive drives to finish in the end zone to erase any lingering drama at Pirate Stadium.
The big moment came on the first snap of the fourth quarter when junior running back Cayden Davis plowed through a gap in Smithville’s three-man front and bounced off would-be tacklers and dragged one more across the goal-line. The 25-yard touchdown capped off his career-best night in a 15-0 win for the Pirates that will shake up the Class 4 District 8 standings.
“Out of the gate, we all felt like we were getting a really good push, and Cayden was doing good, feeling good,” Platte County senior offensive tackle Wyett Wallingford said. “We set out for a big run night. It definitely felt really good. People have been saying we can’t run, but tonight, it felt good to put up some yards on the ground.”
Smithville (5-1) entered undefeated, ranked No. 4 in the most recent Class 4 state media poll and atop the Class 4 District 8 standings. Platte County (5-1) has won four straight since a loss to Class 5 Park Hill South in Week 2 and will likely move up from the third spot in Class 4 District 8, while simultaneously taking control of the Suburban Conference Blue Division chase.
Platte County controlled both lines of scrimmage, rushing for season-high 235 yards, while limiting Smithville’s senior duo of quarterback Spencer Miller and running back Isaac Miller to 97 yards rushing on 23 attempts. The Warriors slowed down a typically high-powered aerial attack by presenting three-man defensive fronts all night, and the Pirates took advantage with Davis racking up a career-high 183 yards rushing on 24 attempts.
“(Smithville) played a defense that took away our pass and weren’t going to let us throw so we ran it and good things happened,” Platte County coach Bill Utz said.
Each of Platte County’s first three drives stalled due to untimely holding calls, but senior Grant Allen made field goals of 39, 40 and 45 yards to give the Pirates a 9-0 lead at halftime. That advantage held until Davis scored the game’s first and only touchdown with 11 minutes, 52 seconds to go.
Platte County senior defensive back Trent Rueckert broke up a pass and junior defensive end Forrest Boynton sacked Spencer Miller to stop two of Smithville’s best drives of the second half to preserve the shutout. The Warriors were outgained 349 to 144.
“Put a zero up, and I like my chances,” Utz said. “They did a nice job, made some adjustments when they needed to and made the plays when they needed to.”
Platte County junior quarterback Chris Ruhnke finished 10-for-13 for 114 yards, and he added 12 yards rushing on scrambles. Davis led the Pirates with four catches for 30 yards, but junior wide receiver Colby Rollins had a key 24-yard reception for a first down on the game’s final drive.
Facing fourth-and-inches in Smithville’s territory with 1:08 to go, Platte County gave the ball to Davis one more time to allow the Pirates to run out the clock. The two teams played twice last season with Platte County scoring 28 unanswered in a dramatic 28-27 regular-season win that eventually forced a three-way split of the Blue Division championship with Kearney. Smithville won the rematch with the Pirates 33-28 in the Class 4 District 8 title game on the way to a state semifinal berth.
