Countdown to kickoff: Pirates ready to ‘make a path for ourselves’ with array of talent

Hannibal senior running back Mike Ferreira, left, is the Pirates' top returning rusher and expects to build on a 1,817-yard, 18-touchdown season from a year ago. | Shane Hulsey photo

Coverage of the Hannibal football program brought to you by: HANNIBAL, Mo. — No Aneyas Williams, no problem. This is the prevailing attitude within the Hannibal football program. “With Aneyas or without Aneyas, we’re still going to win,” senior running back Mike Ferreira said. As Williams, who rushed for 4,255 yards and racked up 3,249…

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Expectations rising as Pirates head into fall ranked among Missouri’s top 25 football teams

Hannibal quarterback Waylon Anders is considered one of the top 30 returning quarterbacks in the state of Missouri, according to SBLive Sports. | Mathew Kirby photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The most celebrated player in the history of the Hannibal High School football program begins his first collegiate football season in three days as the University of Notre Dame kicks off fall camp with Aneyas Williams in the backfield. So what does that mean for the Pirates? Opportunities abound. There’s an opportunity…

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Another overwhelming victory allows Pirates to put finishing touches on NCMC championship

Hannibal quarterback Waylon Anders, right, hands the ball to running back Mike Ferreira, who rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns in Friday night's victory over Marshall at Porter Stadium. | Mathew Kirby file photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The football script was quite familiar. Hannibal scored early, often and in the second half there was a running clock. The Pirates’ 56-7 North Central Missouri Conference blowout of Marshall was the latest in a lengthening line of one-sided victories. This particular win, played before a crowd of about 1,200 at Porter…

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Crim: Hannibal relying on Ferreira to balance attack and keep offense churning forward

Hannibal quarterback Waylon Anders, center, hands the ball off to Mike Ferreira, left, during Friday night's game against Jefferson City at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — After carrying the football 28 times, most of them straight-ahead bursts into heavy traffic between the tackles, Mike Ferreira admitted his body had absorbed some punishment. “I’ve got a few bruises, but I’ll be good,” Hannibal’s junior running back said after the Pirates evened their record at 1-1 Friday night with an…

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Coming through loud and clear: Pirates rebound from Week 1 setback by overpowering Jays

Hannibal’s Mike Ferreira runs the ball during the Pirates’ 42-21 victory over Jefferson City on Friday night at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Smarting from a lopsided road loss to Jefferson City Helias in its season opener, the Hannibal football team was out to make a statement before its home crowd Friday night at Porter Stadium. The message was received loud and clear. Mike Ferreira ran for 177 tough yards, quarterback Waylon Anders threw for…

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Crusaders bury Pirates with third-quarter offensive onslaught

Jefferson City Helias’ Ben Lanigan tries to run down Hannibal’s Cody Culp during Friday night’s season opener at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Maya Bell, Jefferson City News Tribune

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A seven-point halftime deficit didn’t seem too daunting. A 35-point disadvantage by the end of the third quarter was too much to overcome. The Hannibal football team saw Jefferson City Helias score three times on just nine plays in less than five minutes to start the third quarter and never recovered,…

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