OREGON, Mo — When South Holt and Platte Valley met last year, bad blood seemed to brew among the two teams. After South Holt previously upset the Platte Valley squad 77-22 the year prior, Platte Valley needed no extra motivation this outing.
Although both teams are injury ridden, Platte Valley seemed to circle this matchup on the schedule. The team came out firing on all cylinders, and kept their foot on the gas throughout to take the game 60-12.
“We’ve been waiting for this for a year,” Platte Valley junior Blaine Clements said. “Everybody who played, even the kids who didn’t play, he been waiting for this. We got what we wanted and we’re really happy with the outcome we got,”
With that extra fire behind them, the Platte Valley defense started strong, forcing a South Holt punt on a 3-and-out.
“No one likes getting beat up and torched like we were last year,” Platte Valley coach Johnnie SIlkett said. “I knew our kids had it in the back of their mind and it made for very high concentration during the week.”
Junior running back Lucky Ferry jumped right into the game. A 35-yard run would set Platte Valley up nicely in the Knight’s territory. A 4-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Ridge Clements to senior end Justin Miller put the visitors on the board first.
“It was a perfect ball,” Miller said of the pass. “But the running backs did it all for me, they got all the yards.”
Buy Now
Buy Now
Zach Dyer and Ridge Clements
TUCKER KLAMM/THE FORUMAfter the score, South Holt looked to set up a better drive. An immediate forced fumble from senior Kegan Etter looked to give Platte Valley the ball.
Defensive end Blaine Clements flew to the ball, picked it up on a hop, and sprinted to the end zone as the Platte Valley defense followed, celebrating as they entered together.
“I held the outside contain, so I saw the ball pop up off the ground, it fell directly into my chest, and I took it all the way,” Blaine Clements said. “Might’ve celebrated a little too much but I didn’t get called for it.”
That momentum stayed alive with the two-point conversion. Ferry caught a screen pass and put a shoulder into his defender as he plowed his way in for a 16-0 Platte Valley lead.
Soon after, another South Holt drive was eaten up by the Platte Valley defense. Clements, Etter, Miller and senior Landon Wiederholt all combined for a single sack as they forced a 3rd and 15.
After a blocked punt that was fair caught by sophomore Dylan Klamm, Ridge Clements took a botched snap and sprinted down the sideline as he outpaced his defenders for a 42-yard touchdown run.
The Knights showed signs of life soon after — going over the top of the Platte Valley defense for a 65-yard touchdown pass.
After a 46-yard touchdown run from Klamm, South Holt got on the board again with a passing touchdown.
Buy Now
Buy Now
Xier Middleton
TUCKER KLAMM/THE FORUM“We he a very young defensive backfield that gets better every week,” Silkett said. “Our top end is so high with that group. We know we’re going to run through some mistakes along the way and we’re willing to live with it knowing the kind of tacklers and speed we he back there. When it does click in completely, we’ll be pretty darn dangerous with the defensive line we he.”
After the Knight touchdown, Klamm took another big run — this one for 35 yards. Ferry punched it in for a touchdown. This would lead to Platte Valley recovering a kickoff and Miller catching his second touchdown pass of the night to bring the lead to 48-12.
A turnover on downs led to junior Jayden Sturm fiercely blocking a sweep for a Ferry touchdown. The series began to replay itself, with Klamm, Ferry, and junior Andy Mattson with big hits to force another turnover on downs.
Buy Now
Buy Now
Platte Valley cheer
TUCKER KLAMM/THE FORUMFerry put two defenders on the ground with quick moves for his third touchdown run of the night.
“I can’t be more proud of my team right now,” Silkett said.
Platte Valley moves to 5-1 on the season and prepares for their Homecoming matchup on Friday against the Stewartsville-Osborn WildCards.