Hannibal High School
HANNIBAL, Mo. — A plastic baggie filled with marshmallows helped keep quiet the biggest secret in Hannibal a little bit longer. Aneyas Williams, the No. 1 all-purpose back in the 2024 recruiting class according to Rivals.com, and Tippy Toes, the family dog dressed like a leprechaun, combined to announce Williams’ decision to attend the University…
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WEST PLAINS, Mo. — Two shifts in momentum completely changed the context of Friday night’s Class 4 state quarterfinal rematch. The first gave the Hannibal football team a boost. The second spelled doom for the Pirates. After Hannibal scored on the final play of the first half to take a seven-point lead to the locker…
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The No. 1-ranked all-purpose back in the nation used all of his tools to get the Hannibal football team back on track. Aneyas Williams did so in record-setting fashion. The junior capable of doing anything and everything broke the single-game school record Friday night when he scored eight touchdowns Friday night…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — A record-setting offense and an undefeated run to an appearance in the state championship game landed the Hannibal football team with a plethora of Class 4 all-state honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association. The Pirates had three players receive first-team honors and eight players mentioned overall. The MOFBCA honors three teams…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Above all else, Hannibal football coach Jeff Gschwender and his players wanted the community to know how much they appreciated what they heard and saw Friday. “I can’t say enough about the town of Hannibal,” Gschwender said. “I have never seen anything like the support we get. I could not be more…
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Here is a sampling of what this year’s Hannibal football team accomplished: • This was the 10th team in school history to win 10 or more games. The Pirates’ 13-1 record moved it past the 2015 club (12-1) to the top of the pedestal. • Hannibal’s 97 touchdowns tie for 17th in a single season…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — That No. 1 ranking was no exaggeration. Smithville demonstrated exactly why it sat atop the Class 4 high school football poll the entire season when the Warriors overwhelmed Hannibal 31-0 in the state championship game played Friday afternoon at Faurot Field. Smithville, located about 21 miles north of Kansas City, dominated the…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — To achieve everything the Hannibal football team already has and could more potentially come Friday, one thing needed to be clear from the start. You just gotta believe. The Pirates had it in their heads they could be a state championship-caliber crew before taking a snap. “I think it came the first…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Film doesn’t lie. So as the Hannibal football players and coaching staff reviewed last Saturday’s 42-26 victory over North County in the Class 4 state semifinals, a familiar site popped up on the screen — Aneyas Williams running untouched for a touchdown. Trailing 14-7 in the second quarter, Williams took the handoff…
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BONNE TERRE, Mo. — Take a long road trip to unfamiliar territory on a cold, grey November afternoon, coupled with the realization they were a step away from playing at Faurot Field for a state championship, and it’s understandable if the Hannibal football players needed a moment to get acclimated. Two first quarter fumbles led…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Last Friday night on social media, it was simply dubbed “The Play.” It likely goes down as the prep football play of the year. With Hannibal leading West Plains 21-20 in the third quarter of the Class 4 state quarterfinal at Porter Stadium, the Pirates faced fourth and 25 when a screen…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The records keep falling as the Hannibal football team keeps winning. By the time this season is done, Courtland Watson will own every significant passing record in Pirates’ history. In last Friday night’s 35-26 victory over West Plains in the Class 4 state quarterfinals at Porter Stadium, the senior quarterback completed 16…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — For the first time in the postseason, Hannibal’s football team was pushed. And make no mistake about it, the Pirates pushed right back, triggered by sophomore sensation Aneyas Williams. Williams provided another eye-popping performance, this one included five touchdown receptions on a Friday night that saw him reel in 12 catches for…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — All of the attention paid to the Hannibal football team’s record-setting offense has left the defense often overlooked. That’s a mistake. Stingy when it needs to be and opportunistic when it can be, the Pirates’ defense has created problems for opposing offenses all season. Last week’s 47-0 victory over Jefferson City in…
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By Don O’Brien HANNIBAL, Mo. — The ebb and flow of the Hannibal High School football season was interrupted last week thanks to an opening-round bye in the district tournament. As the undefeated No. 1 seed, the Pirates certainly earned the break. Hannibal’s coaching staff could tell they had a monster on their hands during…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — An offense that finished the regular season on a record-setting scoring pace deserves all the accolades the Hannibal football team is receiving. The Pirates had six players land on the All-North Central Missouri Conference offensive first team and four others on the second team after winning the league title with an undefeated…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The eighth undefeated regular season in the history of the Hannibal football program is officially in the record books. Now comes the chance to accomplish what none of the previous seven could or had the chance to do. That’s win a state championship. The Pirates wrapped up a 9-0 run with a…
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Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 10-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cody Thorn, The Examiner; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Brandon Zenner, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B. Connoley, KRES radio; Matt King,…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The North Central Missouri Conference championship is back where it belongs. For the seventh time in the past decade and after one year without the crown, the Hannibal football team rumbled its way to the NCMC title with a 55-0 victory over Marshall on Friday night at Porter Stadium. The Pirates, ranked…
Read Full Article Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 10-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cody Thorn, The Examiner; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Brandon Zenner, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B. Connoley, KRES radio; Matt King,…
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MOBERLY, Mo. — Although the Hannibal football coaching staff chose to rest some guys due to nagging injuries and illness, the Pirates didn’t miss a beat. A three-play scoring drive to open the game kickstarted a 28-point first quarter and a 48-14 rout of Moberly in Friday night’s North Central Missouri Conference victory at Dr.…
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Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 10-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cody Thorn, The Examiner; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Brandon Zenner, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B. Connoley, KRES radio; Matt King,…
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Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 10-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cody Thorn, The Examiner; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Brandon Zenner, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B. Connoley, KRES Radio; Matt King,…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aneyas Williams isn’t the only threat in the backfield of the Hannibal football team. The sophomore standout, who is getting national recruiting attention, has rushed for 475 yards and nine touchdowns in five games this season. However, A.J. Thomas isn’t far behind Williams in production. The senior running back has gained 434…
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Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 10-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cody Thorn, The Examiner; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Brandon Zenner, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B. Connoley, KRES radio; Matt King,…
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Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 10-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cody Thorn, The Examiner; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Brandon Zenner, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B. Connoley, KRES radio; Matt King,…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aneyas Williams is finding himself in elite company these days, drawing recruiting interest from major NCAA Division I football programs. His six-touchdown performance last Friday night in the Hannibal football team’s 56-35 victory at Fort Zumwalt East elevated the sophomore all-purpose back to exclusive company. Williams tied the Pirates’ single-game touchdown record,…
Read Full Article Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 10-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cody Thorn, The Examiner; Dave Kvidahl, STLHighschoolsports.com; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Brandon Zenner, The St. Joseph News-Press; J.B. Connoley, KRES radio; Matt King,…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — An offense averaging more than 45 points per game tends to grab headlines. The Hannibal football team’s success hinges just as much on its stingy defense and the energetic approach of first-year head coach Jeff Gschwender. The Pirates completed a sweep of the Capitol City schools on their schedule Friday night with…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Dick White hadn’t returned to his hometown since … well, it’s been so long the 65-year-old couldn’t remember exactly when the last time was. “I could blame the pandemic for it,” the Hannibal native said. “But that would just be an excuse. I haven’t been back here in a long time.” So…
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Friday’s Schedule Rock Island Alleman at Quincy Notre Dame, 7 p.m. • WGEM 1440 AM, 98.9 FM Quincy High School at Alton, 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM Jefferson City at Hannibal, 7 p.m. • KHMO 1070 AM Central at Pleasant Hill, 7 p.m. • Central Illinois Sports on YouTube Calhoun at Unity-Payson, 7 p.m.…
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Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 15-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Class 6 Rank, team Rec Pts. LW 1. De Smet (5) 1-0 95 — 2. Raymore-Peculiar (5) 1-0 92 — 3. CBC 0-1 74 — 4. Joplin 1-0 54 — 5. Liberty North 0-1 53 —…
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MENDON, Ill. — Matt Woodworth found it easy to pinpoint what he enjoyed most about his head coaching debut. “The aggression we played with,” the Unity-Payson football coach said. The Mustangs made Woodworth’s first game memorable, holding North Greene to minus-33 yards rushing in a 58-0 whitewashing Friday night. The Mustangs outgained the Spartans 484-119…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The pieces are in place for the Hannibal football team to harbor legitimate championship dreams. A skilled quarterback with a complete grasp of the offense. An NCAA Division I talent who can play a variety of positions. A bookend left tackle. A dynamic defensive end. A bulldog middle linebacker. A make-plays-everywhere safety. …
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It’s beginning to feel a lot like football season, everywhere we go. The Pirates are first and 10, the Panthers are popping again and the coaches are yelling go, go, go. It’s beginning to feel a lot like football season, kids are back in school. And the prettiest sight you’ll see is a running back…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal athletic department kicked off the fall sports scene last Friday night at Porter Stadium with the football and boys soccer teams engaging in intrasquad scrimmages, complete with the cheerleading and pom-pon squads adding to the atmosphere. Photographer Mathew Kirby captured the action. Hannibal opens its football season August 27 at…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aneyas Williams understands what comes with his first FBS scholarship offer. “I definitely know I have a target on my back,” the Hannibal football team’s sophomore all-purpose back said. He also understands what he has to do now, too. “Work two times as hard as everybody else,” Williams said. Monday evening, two…
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