Platte Valley advances to first-ever district final
WESLEY MILLER/THE FORUM
Platte Valley senior Aydan Blackford breaks a long run on Friday night against King City in Barnard.
BARNARD, Mo. — Platte Valley has been on a unique journey for the past three years ever since North Nodaway joined the co-op with Jefferson and South Nodaway prior to the 2021 season.
“I’m telling you right now, there’s three different schools, but it’s one team,” coach Johnnie Silkett said. “That has been probably the most fun thing through this whole process is watching these kids really grow and trust each other.”
Platte Valley’s journey took its next step as the team clinched its first ever district championship appearance in the co-op’s history, as Platte Valley defeated King City Friday night in the District 7 Semifinals, 54-8, in front of a home crowd.
“It’s awesome,” senior quarterback Aydan Blackford said. “I mean, we’ve turned this program around tremendously.”
Platte Valley’s unique journey has coincided with Blackford’s own. A senior from North Nodaway, he’s had to adapt to transitioning from a receiver to a quarterback and to working with teammates from three different schools for the past three years.
But to his coach, it didn’t take long to discover Blackford had what it takes to be a leader for that one team for those three schools.
“He came over as a sophomore when we first co-oped together and knew instantly he was gonna be our quarterback,” Silkett said. “Took about two days of practice to figure that’s our quarterback, and he has not disappointed.”
Now as a senior and as a team captain, Blackford has been working to lead his team to wins and leave his mark on Platte Valley. Against the Wildkats, he did both.
Blackford scored four total touchdowns — two on the ground and two through the air. The senior made his presence felt on the defensive side, too, with two interceptions.
“Yeah, that’s awesome,” Blackford said. “On defense, just being at the right place at the right time, doing my job. On offense, just trusting the system and knowing that everything is going to happen.”
“He really didn’t have much of an arm when he first started,” Silkett said. “Last year, started to really develop, and then this year, he just came out gangbusters this year, ready to throw the ball. Just can’t say enough about what he’s done this year for our team, and, you know, he’s made us a more balanced team. We’re not a team of superstars this year, we’re a team of depth. And he’s the one that pulls the strings and makes that all happen. He’s a great kid.”
Senior wideout Lane Acklin, who was the recipient of Blackford’s first touchdown pass from 41 yards out with 11:19 left in the first half, has also been on a unique journey with Platte Valley — although his is a bit shorter than Blackford’s.
This season is Acklin’s first on the team, and, whether it from his touchdown earlier in the night, the big win his team secured moments before or the home game atmosphere, the senior was all smiles when reflecting on his team’s performance in the aftermath of its first playoff game.
“Crazy,” Acklin said of his team’s energy on Friday night. “I mean, in our locker room in the pregame, we were all yelling and screaming, and I’d say this is the most hyped we’ve been since the beginning of the season.”
In just his first season with the team, Acklin said he’s enjoyed every bit of it, and he’s looking forward to the chance to continue it in the District 7 Championship next — a rematch of Platte Valley’s 38-34 win over Worth County in Week 1.
“I love it. I love my team,” Acklin said. “I mean, it’s — I can’t even describe it, there’s no words for it, man. What they have done, you know, with me, I mean, I can’t ask for a better team, honestly. I feed off that, you know. When they’re hyped up, I’m hyped up. And, they help me out. I’m very lucky.”
