Pirates reclaim North Central Missouri Conference throne with another beatdown

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 third in the Class 4 state poll, are 8-0 overall and finish with a 5-0 league record. It is the third time in the last four seasons Hannibal has gone undefeated in the NCMC, owning a 19-1 record in that span. All seven titles in the last decade featured undefeated league records.

The Pirates scored three times in the first quarter, getting two touchdown runs from sophomore Aneyas Williams and one from senior AJ Thomas. Williams, who sat out last week with a tender ankle, finished with three touchdowns, including a 74-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

Thomas finished with 118 yards on 18 carries, while Williams had 84 yards on four carries. Thomas an Tyler Hardy each had a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, while Rommel Pinner returned a fumble for a touchdown. John Clubine forced the fumble.

The Pirates will wrap up the regular season next Friday night at Columbia Battle.