Pirates relish passion, support Hannibal community showed during postseason run

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 proud.”

Those words were sincere, too.

Gschwender’s first thoughts following the 31-0 loss to Smithville in the Class 4 state championship game at Faurot Field were not about X’s and O’s. They were about the moms, dads and community members who showed their support of the Pirates, not only during the 13 victories leading up to the championship game, but during and after the Friday afternoon’s loss.

“It was nice to see the city of Hannibal come together,” sophomore running back Aneyas Williams said. “Props to all (the fans).”

The players were greeted by numerous signs and banners while leaving town at 6:15 a.m. Friday, and the cheering remained strong to the anti-climatic end of the game.

“The community has supported us all season,” senior quarterback Courtland Watson said. “There will be a lot of memories.”

Senior wideout Kaiser Greenwell will never forget his final season and game as a Pirate.

“This experience was great,” he said. “We worked hard … but Smithville played a great game.”

Gschwender had one final thought regarding a season that fell one victory shy of the Pirates’ first state championship.

“Hannibal’s full of hard-working kids,” he said. “They did everything but win that last game. I could not be more proud of them.”

And their fans.