‘It’s the playoffs’: Hannibal clicks on all cylinders to leave no doubt in district-opening victory

By Steve Eighinger | November 2, 2024
Hannibal wide receiver Karter Reed, left, and quarterback Waylon Anders celebrate a touchdown during Friday night's 50-14 victory over Wentzville Holt in the Class 4 District 5 opener at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — What leaves remain on the trees around Dr. E.A. Porter Stadium are flashing a cornucopia of color. And those evening temperatures hovering across Northeast Missouri now provide more than just a hint of the cooler weather that is coming. But Hannibal football coach Jeff Gschwender hardly needs such reminders about how deep…

Read More

Four-peat: Unstoppable offense carries Pirates to fourth consecutive district championship

By Steve Eighinger | November 11, 2023
Hannibal quarterback Waylon Anders dives into the end zone for one of his three touchdown runs during Friday night's 55-32 victory over Warrenton in the Class 4 District 4 title game at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Who’s next? Hannibal continued its scorched-earth approach to postseason football with its third straight one-sided victory Friday night. The Pirates won their fourth straight Class 4 District 4 championship in record-breaking fashion, torching previously unbeaten Warrenton 55-32 before a crowd of about 1,700 at Porter Stadium. Fueled by all-purpose back Aneyas Williams’ …

Read More

Pirates, Williams make quick work of another opponent, waltz into district semifinals

By Steve Eighinger | October 28, 2023
Hannibal’s Kane Wilson gets up after tackling St. Charles’ Ezequiel Lopez during the first half of Friday night’s Class 4 District 4 quarterfinal at Port Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — On the surface, Hannibal’s most recent blowout football victory was little more than another Friday night stroll on the plastic grass of Porter Stadium. The potent Pirates’ steamroller-like offense was its usual productive self, and so was Hannibal’s stifling defense. By midway through the second quarter, an overmatched St. Charles team was…

Read More

Photo gallery: Hannibal volleyball team wins district opener in four sets

By Muddy River Sports | October 19, 2023
Hannibal's Malia Stolte digs a shot during Wednesday night's Class 4 District 4 victory against Fort Zumwalt South at Korf Gym. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The fourth-seeded Hannibal volleyball team opened the Class 4 District 4 tournament at Korf Gym on Wednesday night with a four-set victory over fifth-seeded Fort Zumwalt South, winning 25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 26-24. Abbie Martin led the Pirates with 15 kills and 18 digs, while Ashlyn Hess had 20 assists and six digs,…

Read More

Next man up is next man to shine in Hannibal football team’s district semifinal romp

By Steve Eighinger | November 5, 2022
Hannibal sophomore safety Aaron Daughtery returns one of his three interceptions during Friday's Class 4 District 5 semifinal victory over Warrenton at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Not even in his wildest dreams could Aaron Daughtery have ever envisioned what would unfold Friday night. Never, ever, ever. Daughtery, a sophomore defensive back making his first start in the Hannibal secondary, intercepted three passes — returning one for a touchdown — to help the Pirates overwhelm Warrenton 62-7 in the…

Read More