A late game touchdown helped lift Platte-Geddes to a 14-8 state championship victory over Canistota/Freeman on Thursday night in the 9AA title game. The Black Panthers have gone back-to-back with state football championships.
Both teams traded offensive possessions to start the game. Platte-Geddes had a chance to jump on the board with a 40-yard field goal attempt midway through the opening quarter, but Jackson Olsen’s attempt went left of the mark.
End of the 1st Quarter: Canistota/Freeman 0 Platte-Geddes 0
Canistota/Freeman scored to open the second quarter as Quarterback Tage Ortman took it in from 13-yards out. After the two-point conversion, the Pride led 8-0.
With 25-seconds to play in the half, running back Grayson Hanson ran it in from one-yard out for the Black Panthers. Platte-Geddes was unsuccessful on their two-point conversion, so Canistota/Freeman held a slight lead.
The Black Panthers caught another break before halftime as Chase Varilek picked off a desperation heave by Ortman. Platte-Geddes attempted a 48-yard field goal as time expired, but it came up short.
Halftime: Canistota/Freeman 8 Platte-Geddes 6
Much like the first half, the second half as well started with both teams going three-and-out on their first offensive possessions. Each defense continued to play well for the remainder of the third quarter.
End of the 3rd Quarter: Canistota/Freeman 8 Platte-Geddes 6
On the first play of quarter number four, Jackson Neuman won a jump ball battle to pick off an Ortman pass. But once again Canistota/Freeman’s defense held and forced a turnover on downs. Platte-Geddes would get the ball right back though as Chase Varilek intercepted an Ortman tipped pass near midfield.
With 3:33 to play in the game, Platte-Geddes found the end zone on a 9-yard pass from Dawson Hoffman to Aiden Bultje. The two-point conversion was successful, which gave the Black Panthers a late 14-8 lead.
Canistota/Freeman would turn it over on downs in their own territory with around two-minutes to play. The Pride did have three timeouts, but a couple of first downs by the Black Panthers sealed the victory for Platte-Geddes.
Final: Platte-Geddes 14 Canistota/Freeman 8
Dawson Hoffman threw for 97-yards and a touchdown for the Black Panthers, while Grayson Hanson ran for 83-yards with a touchdown as well. Taje Ortman had the lone touchdown for Canistota/Freeman.
This is Platte-Geddes’ second state title as a co-op. By themselves, Platte won state championships in 1986 and 1992 while Geddes won its lone title in 1982.
