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 […]
Hannibal football
Hannibal’s Williams breaks single-game record with eight touchdowns in victory over Jeff City
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 […]
Pirates land eight players on Class 4 all-state teams following record-breaking season
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 […]
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 […]
By the numbers: A look inside the record-setting season Hannibal enjoyed
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 […]
Second to one: Pirates see dream of state title dashed by Warriors’ shut-down defense
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 […]
Just gotta believe: Pirates’ ability to put trust in each other and their commitment leads to championship game berth
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 […]
We-before-me mentality: Pirates’ collective effort along offensive line creates success
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 […]
Hannibal overcomes shaky first quarter to blow out North County, head to Show-Me Bowl
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 […]
Liquor Booth Shot of the Game: Watson connects with Williams for play of the year
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 […]
Area Distributors Area Athlete of the Week: Hannibal quarterback Courtland Watson
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 […]
‘We’re making history’: Pirates reach state semifinals for third time in program history
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 […]
Pirates ready for challenge of stopping Zizzers’ dual-threat quarterback
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 […]
Pirates get right back down to business, bulldoze way into district title game
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 […]
Running roughshod through NCMC earns Pirates plethora of all-conference honors
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 […]
Pirates cap undefeated regular season, begin chase of state championship
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 […]
Missouri prep football rankings: Hannibal stays No. 3, Monroe City holds at No. 6
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, […]
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 […]
Missouri prep football rankings: Pirates continue holding steady at No. 3
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, […]
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. […]
Missouri prep football rankings: Pirates climb to No. 3, Panthers fall to No. 7
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, […]
Hannibal maintains spot in Class 4 poll; Monroe City still perfect but drops one spot
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, […]
Area Distributors Area Player of the Week: Hannibal running back A.J. Thomas
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 […]
Missouri prep football rankings: Pirates, Panthers continue to hold firm near top
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, […]
Missouri prep football rankings: Hannibal, Monroe City hold steady near top
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, […]
Area Distributors Area Player of the Week: Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams
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, […]
Missouri prep football rankings: Hannibal, Monroe City represent area
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, […]
Saturday rewind: Hardy, Pirates continue to make dominant defensive plays
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 […]
Schuckman: From any vantage point, Pirates’ pursuit of history is sight to behold
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 […]
Game Night Guide: Week 2 of prep football
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. […]
State football rankings: Hannibal sits No. 4 in Class 4, Monroe City is second in Class 1
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 — […]
Saturday football rewind: Mustangs run wild, Panthers show resolve and Pirates knock off defending state champ
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 […]
Pursuit of excellence gives Pirates edge, while experience pushes them forward
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. […]
Scenes from the scrimmages
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 […]
Pirates’ Williams receives first FBS offer from Oregon
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 […]
