New Madrid suffers 21-14 loss in Class 3A title game

ST. LOUIS -- Running back Zach Sherman had 37 carries for 169 yards to ensure Platte County's 21-14 victory over New Madrid County Central and the Missouri State 3A football championship on Friday.

Quarterback Rob Campbell secured the title for Platte County (14-0) when he scored from 5 yards with 8:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Platte County's defense stifled New Madrid County Central (12-2) on their last two possessions by not allowing a first down.

Sherman, a senior, saw considerable action last year for the Pirates. He rushed for 62 yards in last year's win over Salem. His touchdown, a 7-yard run up the middle, gave the Pirates a short-lived 14-7 lead with 11:56 left in the fourth quarter.

On the Eagles' next possession, Brian Murph connected with Dereke Tipler on a 67-yard pass to tie the game before Campbell scored the game-winning touchdown.

Tipler gave the Eagles the lead in the second quarter when he returned a punt 64 yards with 5:02 left in the half. Platte County quickly tied the game when David Poolman took the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.

Class 5A

BLUE SPRINGS 28

HAZELWOOD EAST 12

Blue Springs senior quarterback Justin Whitworth passed for one touchdown and ran for another as Blue Springs defeated Hazelwood East 28-12 to win the Missouri State 5A Championship.

The win gave Blue Springs (14-0) its second state title. Hazelwood East (13-1) couldn't manage to score until the fourth quarter, when Dwayne Buchanan connected with Brandon Massey on a 77-yard touchdown with 9:27 left in the game.

Until then, it was all Blue Springs. Senior wide receiver Curtis Cooper also scored two touchdowns for the Wildcats.

The Blue Springs defense sacked Buchanan 16 times, led by linebacker Darius Witherspoon with four sacks.

Whitworth connected with Josh Barge from 40 yards with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter to give the Wildcats the lead for good.

With 7:29 left in the second period, Whitworth scored from 11 yards out to up the Blue Springs lead to 14-0. The Wildcats final score of the half came on a 59-yard halfback pass.

Class 1A

WEST PLATTE 20

LOCKWOOD 13

The Barmann brothers teamed up to lead West Platte to victory over Lockwood in the Missouri Class 1A championship game.

Adam Barmann, a junior quarterback, threw two touchdown passes to his younger brother Brian, a sophomore wide receiver, to give the Blue Jays (12-2) their first football title.

-- From wire reports