Lee’s Summit, Platte County win big in Missouri football state quarterfinals
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- Platte County used late touchdowns and defense to reach the Class 5 semifinals.
- Rocco Marriott accounted for multiple touchdown passes and two decisive scoring runs.
- Lee's Summit converted a 0-4 start into an eight-game streak and Class 6 berth.
High school football clashes across Missouri sent winners on to the state semifinals Friday night.
Here’s a look at highlights from a couple of quarterfinal games involving teams in the Kansas City metro — Platte County and Lee’s Summit were among those advancing to next week’s MSHSAA final fours:
Platte County 46, Grain Valley 33
If Platte County keeps this up for two more games, the Pirates will celebrate a second straight state title.
Unbeaten Platte County (12-0) won its second straight playoff game in the final stages to advance to reach the Class 5 semifinals.
Platte County, undefeated since the end of the 2023 season, last week beat Rockhurst 29-22 on a game-winning touchdown run by quarterback Rocco Marriott with 2 seconds left.
This week, Marriott ran in the game-winner with 3:20 left.
The Eagles (8-4) and Platte County traded touchdowns throughout Friday’s quarterfinal matchup, a much different cadence than that of the Pirates’ 54-23 win over Grain Valley in the season’s second week.
After Platte County took a 14-7 lead into halftime, the teams were knotted at 20-20 midway through the third quarter when Marriott connected with Braiden Stevens from 20 yards out for one of his five TD passes.
That made it 26-20 Platte County with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. Grain Valley took a 27-26 lead on a fourth-down TD by sophomore Dawson Head, but Marriott’s final TD pass, covering 52 yards to Ty Christopher just 67 seconds later, put the Pirates on top again.
The Eagles took their final lead on a 12-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Cohen Morris to junior Terrell King. It was 33-32 Grain Valley with 5:36 remaining, but Platte County engineered a game-sealing drive capped by Marriott’s 33-yard TD run.
Platte County then put this triumph on ice with an interception of Grain Valley on the Eagles’ ensuing drive. For good measure, Marriott tacked on a final rushing TD, too.
The Pirates will next week face the winner of a Saturday quarterfinal game between Kirkwood and Farmington.
Lee’s Summit 24, Liberty 14
Lee’s Summit continued its second-half surge into the Class 6 semifinals with a 24-14 win in Lee’s Summit.
The Tigers’ win avenged a loss to the Blue Jays in the hosts’ season opener. It was also the Tigers’ eighth straight victory: Lees Summit’s last loss came on Sept. 19.
After starting with four straight losses, the Tigers won eight straight games.
“It’s uncharted territory and these kids deserve it,” Tigers coach Todd Miller said. “It’s a collaboration, but these kids are special. We don’t look pretty coming off the bus, but we play hard and we’re scrappy.”
Two first-half rushing touchdowns, by Peyton Hatfield and Preston Hatfield, accounted for Lee’s Summit’s scores before intermission. Liberty countered with TD runs by Colt Nolin and it was 14-14 at the break.
Lee’s Summit’s defense clamped down after halftime and Sullivan McCarthy’s 29-yard field goal gave the Tigers a 17-14 lead. Karsten Fiene’s 1-yard TD run was a fourth-quarter dagger.
Liberty (10-2) had two more possessions, but they resulted in an interception and a missed field goal.
Lee’s Summit (8-4) will face either CBC or Jackson in the semifinals next week.
Check out 810varsity.com for updated brackets and pairings and more high school coverage.
This story was originally published November 22, 2025 at 12:35 AM.