Since the moment districts were announced early in the season, Friday’s district final was marked by many around the city. Rockhurst had dropped to Missouri Class 5, and in the same district as defending Class 5 Platte County.

And it lived up to the hype.

Rockhurst scored a potential game-winning touchdown with 1:47 left. But that was 1:45 too much with Rocco Marriott on the other sideline.

Marriott, the likely Kansas City player of the year, and Platte County engineered a game-winning drive in the final seconds, to top Rockhurst, 29-22, and win the Class 5, District 8 title.

Rockhurst (9-3) took a 22-21 lead with just 1:47 left, when on fourth down from its own 31, quarterback Garret Miller found fellow junior tight end Warren Robertson over the middle at midfield, who shelled a tackler and raced towards the end zone with 1:47 left.

But Marriott and Platte County, who’s closest game this season was a 31-point win over Grain Valley in Week 2, were called upon for a two-minute drill. Marriott immediately connected with Ty Christopher for a 21-yard gain, then Marriott took a keeper up the middle and weaved left for a 12-yard run.

After an incomplete pass, Marriott threw a ball deflected back to – himself. The senior James Madison commit ran for nine yards to the 12 with :19 left. The Pirates then rolled Marriott to the right behind a wall of defenders, and not finding an open target, Marriott rushed and lunged with Pirates pushing him to the 1.

Just six seconds remained and instead of the field goal, Platte County opted to go for the touchdown. Marriott took the snap and rushed right and into the end zone for a 27-22 lead with :02 left in front of a frenzied crowd. The two-point conversion was good for a 29-22 margin.

Rockhurst attempted a few tosses back on the kickoff, but was tackled around midfield.

Platte County (11-0), which hadn’t lost since 2023, trailed 12-0 in the first half after Marriott threw two interceptions. Meanwhile, Rockhurst toed two field goals then a long bomb to Tristan Johnson for 85 yards and a 12-0 lead.

Marriott and the Pirates got warmed up with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Christopher with 3:24 left in the third quarter, followed by a stop, a 27-yard punt return by Braiden Stevens to the Rock 29, followed by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Kansas commit Jack Utz for a 13-12 lead with 2:13 left in the third period.

After a long Rockhurst drive resulting in a 30-yard field goal for a 15-13 lead with 8:03 left in the game, Platte County struck again on a Marriott 10-yard keeper and a two-point conversion to Tres Baskerville to lead 21-15 with 3:38 left.

Platte County will take on Grain Valley (8-3) in the Class 5 quarterfinals at 7 pm next Friday at Grain Valley.