​Eagles get big game from Palmer, but can’t overcome explosive Pirate offense in loss

by Michael Smith


One week after rushing for 197 yards and a touchdown, Grain Valley senior running back Robert Palmer proved he is the real deal.

Palmer and the Grain Valley football team went up against Suburban White Conference rival Platte County, a team it beat twice last season, including a 27-25 victory in the Class 5 District 7 championship game.

Palmer followed up his big game last week with 242 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries against the Pirates.

Normally a performance like that would lead to a victory. However, the Eagles offense couldn’t muster much aside from two 80-yard scoring runs from Palmer and the defense had issues stopping an explosive Platte County offense as Grain Valley fell 52-21 Friday at Moody Murry Memorial Field.

“We couldn’t sustain drives to get our defense a rest,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “Our defense wore down. We had smatterings here and there of good plays on offense, but we couldn’t sustain anything.”

Grain Valley (1-1) stayed even with Platte County in the first half as the teams went into halftime tied at 14-all. After Platte County scored a touchdown, the Eagles responded with nine unanswered points as Palmer found a huge hole on the right side of his offense line and rumbled 80 yards for a score with 31 seconds in the first, tying the game at seven.

The Eagles defense took advantage of two bad snaps from Platte County center Barrett Ryan, both of which led to two safeties and four points in the first half. Place kicker Colton Clyman also made a 26-yard field goal with three seconds in the half.

In the second half, however, is when things changed. Platte County outscored the Eagles 38-7 in the final 24 minutes. Platte County scored 17 consecutive points which began with a pass on a bubble screen from Platte County junior Rocco Marriott to wide receiver Ty Christopher.

Palmer made it 31-21 with 1:35 left in the third period when he scored on a toss play as he beat the Pirates defense on the right side as he raced along the sideline for another 80-yard TD run on a toss play.

Platte County then rattled off 21 consecutive points to put it away. The spurt was highlighted by a 55-yard scoring pass from Marriott to junior Tres Baskerville, who broke two Eagles tackles on the way to the end zone.

Grain Valley had issues slowing down Marriott, who completed 17 of 23 passes for 235 yards and five touchdowns through the air and had eight carries for 65 yards and another score on the ground.

“We have to come back and learn from this game,” Allie said. “Their quarterback is good. He can scramble and he has a strong arm.”

On defense, senior defensive end Alex Osborn led Grain Valley with two sacks and junior linebacker Hunter Nally had a team-high seven tackles.

Grain Valley will take on William Chrisman next week at 7 p.m. on the road.

​“We have to have that next-game mentality,” Allie said. “You mourn or grieve or whatever you want to call this, and move on to the next one.”

Photos by John Overstreet