Ferry’s 5-touchdown day highlights Platte Valley offensive explosion

By Phil Cobb | September 7, 2024 |

THE FORUM
Platte Valley senior Justin Miller smiles during Friday’s game in Princeton.

PRINCETON, Mo — Platte Valley delivered a strong offensive performance Friday night, highlighted by junior tailback Lucky Ferry’s five touchdowns, in a 74-34 road win over Princeton.

After a Platte Valley four-and-out, senior Mason Casner quickly jumped a Princeton pass for an interception, setting Platte Valley up to start the game with a score. Casner would suffer an injury soon after, being removed from the game entirely.

Lucky Ferry started his night off taking a sweep around the right edge. He bulldozed a Princeton defender and stumbled in for the first touchdown of the night.

Platte Valley showed their suffocating defense again on the next drive. A deep ball was knocked down by sophomore safety Dylan Klamm, followed by a rare defensive end interception by senior Justin Miller.

“I knew I had to go into pass coverage,” Miller stated. “So I just jumped the pass, got it, and tried to get us some extra yards.”

After Princeton’s first touchdown of the night, the Platte Valley offense took their drive slow. They capped it off with a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Ridge Clements-Harger to senior end Brody Staples.

Princeton’s first touchdown came off a pass, and they found more success through the air moving on. As they launched another deep ball to get them within the red zone. Going right back to the pass, the Tigers took it in for six to bring the score to a 16-14 Platte Valley lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter started with a pancake by Miller, prefaced by a caught pass. Platte Valley bullied their way back into the end zone with junior fullback Jayden Sturm.

The defense would continue to shine with a Miller sack, followed by a pass breakup from senior Xavier Middleton to give Platte Valley momentum. This would immediately translate over to a 50-yard touchdown run from Ferry.

“I run like I hate the ground because that grass is itchy,” Ferry said with a laugh. “So the only thing that touches that ground is my feet.”

Princeton would follow this up with another deep ball before Platte Valley scored rushing touchdowns from Clements-Harger and Ferry to end the first half up 48-28.

Platte Valley opened the second half with a huge 4th down stop, followed by a a Ferry 45-yard touchdown run.

The run game would continue to terrorize the Princeton defense, as Klamm would take a sweep for his first touchdown of the game. Ferry would then get his fifth score of the night with another touchdown run.

“We teach our kids to pick a side and attack the side of a defender,” Platte Valley coach Johnnie Silkett said. “If you can’t escape or stiff arm, then we attack and hit them first. It always moves the ball forward while setting the tone.”

Unsung as it may be, the Platte Valley defense made huge adjustments in that second half. After getting beat on deep balls in the first half, they changed the outcome in the second.

“We just had some technique issues,” Silkett said. “At halftime we just made some adjustments as far as keeping in their hip pocket and making sure they’re in the correct zone. We just straightened some things out, especially for the younger kids who have not played as much defense.”

Platte Valley freshman running back Mason Holladay took a dominant run to the endzone for the game’s final score ending it at a 74-34.

It would later be learned that Casner suffered a broken collarbone. Sidelining the 2-way threat for, at least, a good part of the regular season.

The 5-touchdown performance from Ferry gives opposing teams a nightmare matchup to deal with.

“It’s pretty big,” Ferry said of the performance. “It’s hard to do, but when you have a good line and good lead blockers, you can get the job done. It’ll help us a lot moving forward. We can come into every game knowing that we can do it now.”