Pirates relish passion, support Hannibal community showed during postseason run

Hannibal fans packed the west side of the Faurot Field stands in support of the Pirates during Friday's Class 4 state championship game against Smithville in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

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…

Read More

By the numbers: A look inside the record-setting season Hannibal enjoyed

Hannibal’s Courtland Watson, right, hands the ball off to Aneyas Williams during Pirates' Class 4 state championship game against Smithville on Friday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

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…

Read More

Second to one: Pirates see dream of state title dashed by Warriors’ shut-down defense

Hannibal’s Aneyas Williams, right, hugs senior Kaiser Greenwell after the Pirates' 31-0 loss to Smithville in the Class 4 state championship game at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

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…

Read More

Just gotta believe: Pirates’ ability to put trust in each other and their commitment leads to championship game berth

Hannibal senior quarterback Courtland Watson and the Pirates are one victory away from becoming the third team in program history to win a state championship. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

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…

Read More