Pirates overwhelm Spartans from first play forward, stay undefeated in NCMC
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. Larry K. Noel Spartan Stadium. The Spartans beat the Pirates 14-13 in the regular season last year to win the NCMC championship, although Hannibal got its revenge with a 35-point victory in the district championship.
This time, the Spartans were never in the game.
Pirates quarterback Courtland Watson ripped off a 47-yard run on the game’s first play, and two plays later, Markahl Humphrey scored on a 5-yard run. Watson threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, while AJ Thomas scored on two short runs as the Pirates built a 42-0 halftime edge.
Humphrey added an 84-yard kick return for a touchdown in the third quarter. He had seven carries for 40 yards and two catches for 11 yards as the Pirates had just 242 yards of total offense. Sophomore all-purpose back Aneyas Williams didn’t play.
Kane Wilson led the Hannibal defense with 10 tackles and three tackles for loss, while Daquan Powell had five tackles, an interception and a pass broken up.
Third-ranked Hannibal (7-0, 4-0 NCMC) will look to wrap up an undefeated conference slate against Marshall next Friday at Porter Stadium.
Hannibal’s Markahl Humphrey scores a first-quarter touchdown in Friday night’s game against Moberly in North Central Missouri Conference action. (Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby) Hannibal’s Jack Parker, left, tackles Moberly’s Jonah Black (24) during Friday’s game against Moberly in North Central Missouri Conference action. (Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby) Hannibal running back AJ Thomas finds a hole during Friday’s game against Moberly in North Central Missouri Conference action. (Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby) Hannibal’s Daquan Powell (2) runs with the ball after intercepting a pass during Friday’s game against Moberly in North Central Missouri Conference action. (Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby)
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