Lamar rolled past Jefferson (Festus) 42-7 in a Class 2 prep football semifinal on Saturday at Thomas O’Sullivan Stadium.
The Tigers (11-1) advanced to the championship game at 7 on Friday at Blair Oaks High School, where they’ll face St. Pius X (12-0).
Lamar’s Logan Crockett scored on the second play of the game on a 60-yard run. An 8-yard score from Cade Griffith and a 10-yard pass from Case Tucker to Austin Wilkerson made it 20-0 late in the first quarter.
The Tigers added two more touchdowns in the second quarter, as Crockett scored on a 41-yard run and Tucker added a 1-yard plunge that gave Lamar a 35-0 lead at the break.
Joel Beshore reached the end zone on a 3-yard run to give Lamar a 42-0 advantage with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Jefferson got on the board on Will Schnitzler’s 20-yard run late in the game for the final margin.
Lamar is in a title game for the first time since 2017. The Tigers are going for their eighth crown.
CASSVILLE’S COMEBACK FALLS SHORT
In a Class 3 semifinal, host Maryville scored the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left to beat Cassville 30-28.
The Spoofhounds led 17-0 at the end of the third quarter.
After being shut out for the first three quarters, the Wildcats scored 28 points in the fourth quarter.
Cassville got on the board with 11:49 remaining on Hayden Sink’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Jericho Farris ran for a 34-yard score with 10:09 left, cutting Cassville’s deficit to 17-14.
Maryville answered with a scoring drive, taking a 24-14 lead with just under four minutes to play.
The Wildcats pulled within three with 2:05 left when Drake Reese hauled in a 51-yard touchdown pass.
After recovering an onside kick, Cassville took a 28-24 lead with 1:07 to go when Brett Cooper scored on a 44-yard pass play. Maryville responded, as Connor Drake connected with Caden Stoecklein for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left.
Cassville ends the season at 10-3.
Maryville (11-3) meets Blair Oaks (12-1) at 6 on Saturday in the championship game at Jefferson City High School.
LINCOLN, Mo. — Madi Stokes and Amaya Johns each scored in double figures to lead Missouri Southern past Lincoln 81-65 on Saturday.
Stokes tied UCM’s Niyah Jackson with a game-high 15 point on 6-of-10 shooting, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Johns finished close behind with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with four rebounds and an assist in the win.
Southern (1-3, 1-3 MIAA) jumped out to a quick lead, shooting 43 percent in the first quarter (6-14) and converting seven free throws to build a 20-10 lead. The Lions continued to add on in the second quarter for a 43-26 advantage by the intermission before pushing the lead to 20 by the start of the fourth.
Biance Stocks added nine points and six rebounds, while Zoe Campbell added eight points. Kaitlin Hunnicutt and Anna Hall each had seven points. Hunnicutt finished with four rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Hall had three rebounds.
Southern limited Lincoln (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) to 35 percent shooting for the game and 26 percent from the floor in the first half. The Lions outscored the Blue Tigers 40-28 in points in the paint, and MSSU’s bench outscored Lincoln’s 50-18.
The Blue Tigers finished with three players in double figures. Niyah Jackson led the team with 15 points and five assists. Deija Jackson added 12 points, while Aliyah Bello scored 10 points , had four rebounds and three steals.
Southern hosts Northeastern State on Dec. 3.
MSSU men fall behind early in first loss
LINCOLN, Mo. — Lincoln built a 14-point lead midway through the first half and never relinquished it on the way to a 76-68 win over No. 21 Missouri Southern on Saturday.
The Blue Tigers (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) led by as many as 15 points in the second half before the Lions (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) fought back to trim the lead to five, 69-64, with 2:16 left in regulation. That was as close to the lead Southern would get before the final horn sounded.
Lincoln shot 44 percent from the field in the win, while four players finished in double-figure scoring. Sai Witt finished with 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Quinton Drayton scored 16 points and had six rebounds. Cameron Potts had 14 points, a team-high seven assists and five rebounds. Ni’Sean Rigmaiden added 11 points.
Southern shot 37 percent from the field and 26 percent from the perimeter. Stan Scott came off the bench and led MSSU with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting. He grabbed 11 rebounds and had four steals to finish with a double-double. Cam Martin had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Winston Dessesow had 11 points and three assists. Christian Bundy scored 11 points and rishined with seven rebounds.
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Central Missouri built a three-point lead at the intermission before holding off Pittsburg State for an 88-80 win on Saturday.
The Mules (1-2, 1-2 MIAA) were red hot from the field in the win, shooting 56 percent from the floor and knocking down 10-of-16 3-point attempts to lead them to victory. The Gorillas (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) shot 50 percent from the field and 8-of-24 from the perimeter in the loss.
Quentin Hardrict Jr. led PSU in scoring with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor, adding four assists, two blocks, two rebounds and a steal. Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. scored 15 points and made six shots from the field. He had a team-high eight rebounds. Ryan Pippins, Martin Vogts, Zach Burch and RJ Lawrence all scored eight points for Pittsburg State.
Central Missouri finished with five players scoring in double figures. Jalen Blaize led UCM with 25 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Gaven Pinkley added 14 points and five rebounds, while Hunter Cameron finished with 13 points and nine assists. Ante Sustic had 12 points, while Mohammed Abubakar had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Pittsburg State hosts Rogers State on Dec. 3.
UCM women take down PSU with strong start
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Central Missouri doubled up Pittsburg State in the first quarter and built a 44-27 lead by the intermission before going on to win 78-61 on Saturday.
The Jennies (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) opened the game with the momentum, outsourcing the Gorillas 24-12 in the first quarter, and never relinquished it. Pittsburg State (1-2, 1-2 MIAA) trimmed the lead to 14 to start the fourth quarter but the Jennies held firm to keep their distance in the win.
Pittsburg State shot 31.7 percent in the loss, connecting on 10-of-32 shots from the perimeter. Tristan Gegg led the Gorillas in scoring with 22 points on 7-of-22 shooting, adding four rebounds and two assists. Kaylee DaMitz and Sydnee Crain each added nine points. DaMitz had a team-high seven assists, five rebounds and four steals. Crain added three assists and two steals. Carthage product Maya Williams had six points and six rebounds as well as two steals.
Central Missouri shot 54.5 percent from the field (30-55) and 40 percent from 3-point range (6-15). Graycen Holden led UCM in scoring with 22 points on 9-of-9 shooting. She had six rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Nija Collier was 9-of-11 from the floor for 20 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Morgan VanHyfte scored eight points and had eight rebounds.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — A solid effort wasn’t enough for the Webb City Cardinals.
As a result, the 2020 season came to an abrupt end.
Platte County scored the go-ahead touchdown with just under six minutes to play, and the visiting Pirates came up with a pair of late defensive stops to secure a 24-21 victory over Webb City in a Class 5 semifinal on Saturday afternoon at a packed Cardinal Stadium.
Webb City concludes the fall campaign with an 11-2 record.
“When you start the playoffs, every team but one is going to end with a loss,” Webb City coach John Roderique said. “Hats off to Platte County. They did what they needed to do. They had a great plan. Defensively, they played really well against us. Like I said to our kids, the buck stops with me. I wasn’t good enough today. Our guys played their guts out. We couldn’t do enough offensively, and that’s on me.”
Platte County (12-1) will meet Jackson (13-0) for the Class 5 crown at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City.
“I’m super proud of our effort,” Platte County coach Bill Utz said. “I thought our kids played hard the whole game. Webb City is a tremendous team. So to be able to come in and do this against such a great program and such a well-coached program, it’s a huge win for our kids and for our program in general.”
It was Platte County’s first-ever win against Webb City. The Cardinals won a semifinal matchup 21-18 in 2017 and beat the Pirates 48-0 in last year’s Class 4 title game.
“Revenge was not even part of our talk,” Utz said. “We play for progress, not for revenge. We’d like to play them every year because they’re a measuring stick for us. That’s why I love playing them. It tells me where we’re at.”
Webb City led 21-17 with 9:25 remaining, but the Pirates answered with a go-ahead scoring drive before keeping the Cardinals out of the end zone on two late series.
“There’s a real fine line between winning and losing,” Roderique said, noting missed opportunities. “Today, it wasn’t meant to be.”
Webb City’s Cooper Crouch tackles Platte County’s Colby Rollins during Saturday’s Class 5 semifinal. Webb City’s Brentan Wilson and Shane Noel are also pictured. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
GAME RECAP
Platte County struck first when quarterback Chris Ruhnke completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Carter Salzman with 7:25 remaining in the opening frame.
The two teams traded turnovers late in the first quarter, as Webb City quarterback Cole Gayman fumbled after being hit before Cale Stephens intercepted a Ruhnke pass.
Webb City nearly tied the game late in the first period, but the hosts fumbled on the 1-yard line, with the Pirates recovering in the end zone.
The visitors took a 14-0 lead with 9:27 left in the first half when Ruhnke completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Salzman, capping an 80-yard drive. A Northwest Missouri recruit, Ruhnke ran in the two-point conversion.
The Cardinals cut their deficit in half when senior running back Devrin Weathers broke free for a much-needed 82-yard touchdown sprint. Cameron Clark’s kick made it 14-7 with 4:46 left in the first half.
Webb City senior Devrin Weathers celebrates a touchdown during Saturday’s game with Platte County. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
After forcing the Pirates into a quick three-and-out, the Cardinals needed just one play to score, as Weathers ran 38 yards up the middle to the end zone, with Clark’s kick tying the score at 14 with 3:32 left in the first half.
But Platte County’s Cole Rhoden converted a 38-yard field just before the break, giving the Pirates a 17-14 halftime cushion.
Webb City’s Treghan Parker picked off two Ruhnke passes in the third period.
“Treghan…what a great player that guy has been,” Roderique said. “He’s been tremendous for us.”
But the Cardinals were unable to take advantage of the turnovers, as the hosts simply couldn’t generate much offense during the period, going three and out on three straight drives. As a result, the hosts trailed by three entering the fourth quarter.
On the first series of the final frame, Webb City marched 74 yards to take the lead, as Dupree Jackson’s 4-yard touchdown run gave the Cardinals a 21-17 advantage with 9:25 remaining. Long pass plays set up the score, including a 33-yard strike to Mekhi Garrard and a 49-yard pass to Cohl Vaden.
The Pirates re-took the lead with 5:58 left when Colby Rollins hauled in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Ruhnke in the left corner of the end zone on fourth down, capping a 13-play, 64-yard drive.
“He really threw the ball well,” Roderique said of Ruhnke. “The last play was a terrific throw.”
Webb City had a turnover on downs with 4:33 left. On the ensuing drive, the Pirates were able to pick up a key first down to keep the clock moving.
Platte County’s drive ended with a turnover on downs, but the Cardinals had just 25 seconds remaining when they got the ball back.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, there would be no late-game magic, as four passes fell incomplete before time ran out.
“Our defense has been solid all year,” Utz said. “We’ve got a lot of kids who play with a lot of heart and get after it.”
Platte County’s Collin Tyson hits Webb City quarterback Cole Gayman from behind during Saturday’s Class 5 semifinal. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
NAMES & NUMBERS
Webb City compiled 333 yards of offense on 46 plays, with 245 rushing and 88 passing.
In his final game in a Webb City uniform, Weathers recorded 192 rushing yards on 16 carries with two scores. Junior Dupree Jackson ran 10 times for 60 yards.
Another senior, Gayman completed 4-of-12 passes for 88 yards. Vaden hauled in one pass for 49 yards, Garrard had two catches for 36 and Jackson had one reception for three yards.
Webb City had 14 first downs, while Platte County had 24.
Platte County racked up 361 yards on 79 plays, with 227 passing and 134 rushing. The Pirates were 9-for-19 on third-down conversions, while Webb City was 3-for-10.
Ruhnke completed 19-of-44 pass attempts with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Salzman led the receivers with five catches for 87 yards. Cayden Davis ran 27 times for 90 yards.
NOTES: The Cardinals were led onto the field by Christian Heady, a Webb City student who has been battling cancer.
In the other semifinal, Jackson knocked off Fort Zumwalt North 49-14 on Friday night to earn a second straight trip to the Class 5 title game. The Indians lost to Carthage in overtime last year.
Webb City’s Dupree Jackson carries the ball during Saturday’s game. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
Webb City coach John Roderique talks to his team after Saturday’s season-ending loss to Platte County. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
CLASS 5 SEMIFINAL
PLATTE COUNTY 24, WEBB CITY 21
Platte Co. 6 11 0 7—24
Webb City 0 14 0 7—21
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
PC: Carter Salzman 15 pass from Chris Ruhnke (Pass failed)
Second Quarter
PC: Salzman 16 pass from Ruhnke (Ruhnke run)
WC: Devrin Weathers 82 run (Cameron Clark kick)
WC: Weathers 38 run (Clark kick)
PC: Cole Rhoden 38 field goal
Third Quarter
No scoring
Fourth Quarter
WC: Dupree Jackson 4 run (Clark kick)
PC: Colby Rollins 9 pass from Ruhnke (Rhoden kick)
