Photo Credit: Todd Nugent/PC Preps Extra 
With the district championship on the line, Platte County looked as impressive as they have all season, beating St. Pius X 45-23 on Friday night in Platte City, Mo.
It looked like the back-and-forth you’d expect from the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in Class 5 before the Pirates made a statement late in the first quarter.
Each team scored on TD passes within the first five minutes of the game.
At 1:45 of the quarter, Platte County regained the lead on a 44-yard pass from Rocco Marriott to Ty Christopher.
The PAT was blocked, but the Pirates forced and recovered a fumble deep in Pius territory on the ensuing kickoff.
Rocco Marriott's third TD pass of the quarter was hauled in by Tres Baskerville with 48 second left. The two-point conversion made it 21-7, after one.
"It was a situation where we had to see what Pius' game plan was going to be, they are a very well-coached team and sound," Platte County head coach Bill Utz said. "A big turnover got us the two-score lead and that put us in the driver's seat. When you have to fight from that deficit it changes what you can do."
Marriott kept slinging it in the second, connecting with Braiden Stevens on an 80-yard pass at 8:45 of the second.
Adam GIsler's 52-yard rushing score put the Pirates up 35-7 with under six minutes to go in the half.
Marriott added a rush TD to his first-half stat line and Platte County was up 42-7 at halftime.
The Pirates’ Jackson Goodale hit a 38-yard field goal for the only points of the third quarter (45-7).
Pius fought until the end, scoring on touchdown passes from Jacob Nichols to Brock Chisam and Tommy Hutsler in the final nine minutes. The Warriors were successful on two-point conversions after each score to account for the final margin.
"It was a great game and unfortunately someone has to go home," Utz said. "Couldn't be more proud of our coaches and players. Really, the whole program did a great job."
Pius, which moved from Class 3 to Class 5 this season, ends the year at 10-2.
Platte County racked up 400-plus yards on offense, led by Marriott's 225 passing yards and Stevens' 143 yards receiving.
The Pirates (11-0) will face Webb City on Nov. 23.
