Penney dominates third quarter in beating North Platte in quarterfinals, 35-13

The Penney High School Hornets battled KCI Conference North Platte to a scoreless tie for the majority of the first half on Friday night at Alumni Field, however that was somewhat frustrating for the Hornets, as a goal line fumble early in the second quarter cost the home team a chance at the opening points. 

Getting the football back at midfield after the fumble, Penney turned the ensuing drive, starting at midfield, into points, as Jack Cooley scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 2:01 remaining in the half, sending Hamilton to a 6-0 halftime lead. 

The third quarter was the difference in the District 4 final, as Hamilton put three more touchdowns on the board around a North Platte 27 yard scoring pass, leading 28-7 after three and winning 35-13 to set up a semifinal showdown with Tipton this Saturday afternoon at 1 o’clock on KGOZ FM 101.7 (KGOZ from Tune-In Radio and KTTNSports.com). 

Titus McBee had a 6 yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, with a McBee two point conversion pushing the lead to 14-0.  Cooley added his second touchdown of the night, at 7 yard burst, midway through the quarter, with McBee adding a two-yard sneak with 38.3 seconds remaining in the quarter. 

Down 28-7 heading into the final quarter, North Platte had a promising drive going to attempt to stay within shouting distance of Penney.  As the Panthers crossed midfield, a throw up the right hashmarks attempted to put North Platte into the red zone, but Sawyer Ford had other ideas: 

A 20-yard scoring pass on the final play of the game made the score 35-13. 

Other state quarterfinal scores from Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23, 2024: 

Eight-Man: 

Archie 44, Lockwood 28 

Bishop LeBlond 60, Rock Port 54

Braymer 49, Concordia 21

North Shelby 50, Worth County 40 

Class 1: 

St. Vincent 42, Crystal City 0 

Adrian 17, Marionville 16

Tipton 42, Harrisburg 36

Penney 35, North Platte 13

Class 2: 

Bowling Green 36, Valle Catholic 28 

Lamar 24, Pembroke Hill 13

Fair Grove 14, Lafayette County 13

South Shelby 28, Mid-Buchanan 26 

Class 3: 

Lift for Life 50, Dexter 12 

Seneca 55, Mount Vernon 26

Blair Oaks 49, Hallsville 0 

Maryville 14, Odessa 0 

Class 4:

Festus 48, Gateway 14

Lutheran North 24, Parkway North 18 

Kearney 49, Warrensburg 14

Warrenton 28, West Plains 24

Class 5: 

Helias Catholic 24, Republic 21

Lafayette (Wildwood) 30, Cardinal Ritter 18 

MICDS 49, Fort Zumwalt West 3

Platte County 35, Webb City 0

Class 6: 

Kirkwood 45, Jackson 35

Nixa 21, Lee’s Summit North 20 

Liberty 30, Park Hill 13

De Smet Jesuit 28, Rock Bridge 14