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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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)
