Fort Osage had so much success with last week’s winning formula they tried it again tonight against Platte County – get down by two touchdowns, claw your way back into it, have multiple players make big plays down the stretch, and have your kicker nail a game-winning field goal.
Last week it was a 17-14 comeback win over Staley, and this week it was a 22-20 win over the Pirates for a district title and a spot in the Class 5 state quarterfinals.
Just the way they drew it up.
“We just need to put 14-0 on the board to start the first quarter (next week),” Indians head coach Brock Bult said. “There were big plays throughout, and things kept swinging one way to the next. …We are finding ways to get it done.”
At this point in the season, that’s all that matters.
After cutting a 14-0 deficit to 14-7 thanks to a late second-quarter touchdown, it was the Fort Osage defense and special teams that flipped the game.
On the second play of the half, Platte County quarterback Jared Parsons got hit hard and the ball came loose. Right there to pick it up was Fort Osage’s David Jacquez, and he rumbled 37 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-13 after the extra point went wide right.
The Indians defense forced a punt on the next Pirate drive, which Roman Tillmon got a piece of for the block. As it rolled forward, punt returner Larenzo Fenner came running up almost 20 yards from where he was waiting to field the punt, scooped the ball up, and ran 71 yards for a touchdown.
Fenner said there was zero hesitation to run up to try and get the ball despite several players in the area.
“Oh no. I knew I wanted it,” he said. “I knew when I got my hands on the ball I was going for a touchdown.”
Added Bult, “We drill that in them. If the ball is touched, pick it up, it’s a free play. It was a very heads-up play.”
Just like that, without the offense touching the ball, the Indians took a 19-14 lead after the two-point try failed.
“It’s a 22-20 game and they had 14 points off turnovers. Those are big plays,” Pirates head coach Bill Utz said. “We totally had chances. That’s what is hard about this game. You have those opportunities and you either make it or you don’t. We 100 percent had opportunities. Credit to Fort Osage. They did make plays.”
Platte County would respond on the next drive, though, as Parsons found Brody Fulk for a 12-yard touchdown pass to make it 20-19 after the failed two-point conversion.
After each team traded punts, the Indians came through with several clutch plays during a 14-play drive that lasted almost six-and-a-half minutes.
Fort Osage quarterback Greg Menne made the signature play of the drive on third-and-nine. The junior seemingly evaded every Platte County rusher as he danced around the pocket before finally finding Brody McBee for a 19-yard gain.
Menne said he got some help from the crowd, including one person in particular.
“I saw they were going to over pursue,” he said. “Shout out to my mom, Jennifer Menne, I heard her say ‘throw the ball!’. I found my best friend (McBee). We’ve played together since grade school. Our connection is amazing.”
Menne’s play didn’t surprise his coach.
“He threw the ball while being dragged down,” Bult said. “He sometimes holds the ball too long and I give him crap about it, but sometimes he makes plays. You need a guy that can make a play when he’s back there.”
Three plays later Menne found Fenner for a diving catch over the middle, gaining 23 yards on third-and-10.
That would eventually set up last week’s hero – sophomore kicker Xander Shepherd – as he strolled out for a 25-yarder. Despite a missed extra point earlier in the game, he confidently nailed this one to give the Indians the lead for good.
“I got that miss out of my system and adjusted to the wind,” Shepherd said. “It’s the same thing (as last week). It never gets old. It’s a great feeling.”
Elijah Bernard intercepted Parsons on the next possession and the offense ran out the clock from there with three first downs to seal the win.
“Everyone stepped up and made big plays,” Bult said.
They will try and keep that trend going next Friday when they travel to play Grain Valley for a spot in the state semifinals.
