Never say never: Pirates trim four-touchdown deficit to one score, unable to finish comeback

The Hannibal football players react to their season-ending 70-61 loss to Lutheran North in the Class 4 state quarterfinals Friday night in St. Louis. | Photo courtesy Rick Ulreich

ST. LOUIS — The lead seemed insurmountable. It nearly wasn’t. Trailing Lutheran North 62-33 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Friday night’s Class 4 state quarterfinal, the Hannibal football team refused to lay down. Three touchdowns in a nine-minute span pulled the Pirates within 62-55 with 3:55 to play in regulation. However,…

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Photo gallery: Hannibal football team’s season ends with loss to Lutheran North

Hannibal senior Aneyas Williams breaks away from Lutheran North junior Xavier Chapman on a 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of Friday night's Class 4 state quarterfinal. | Photo courtesy Rick Ulerich

ST. LOUIS — Two explosive offenses put together a fireworks show Friday night. The big bangs belonged to the Lutheran North football team. The Crusaders built a 29-point lead in the third quarter and held off Hannibal’s comeback, winning the Class 4 state quarterfinal 70-61. Hannibal ends its season with an 11-2 record. Freelance photographer…

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Playoff primer: Hannibal heads to Gateway City for state quarterfinal matchup

Hannibal running back Mike Ferreira, left, takes the handoff from quarterback Waylon Anders during last Friday's Class 4 district championship game against Warrenton at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — For the fourth consecutive season, the Hannibal football team has reached the Class 4 state quarterfinals. Only once in those three previous postseason trips have the Pirates advanced to the state semifinals. That was in 2021 when Hannibal went undefeated until the state championship game against Smithville. A vast number of players…

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