For the first time since the 2021 season, the Warrenton football season has ended in the first round of the MSHSAA district playoffs.
And just like in that year, Warrenton’s final whistle came at the hands of the Hannibal Pirates.
In a Class 4 District 4 quarterfinal at Hannibal, the Warriors dropped a 46-21 decision.
Warrenton (6-4) was forced to play from behind all night after conceding the first 27 points. Warrenton did outscore the Pirates 21-19 over the final two-and-a-half quarters, but the damage was done.
Bradley Tucker scored on a 6-yard run with 4 minutes, 28 seconds left in the half to make the score 27-7. Just before the half, quarterback Mason Sanders found Scott Vanpool on a 16-yard strike to make It 27-14 with 1:22 left.
After a couple of touchdowns by Hannibal (5-5), Warrenton found the end zone once again.
Sanders connected with Drake Brandriff on a 19-yard score with 3:03 left in the third to make it 46-21 and account for the game’s final points.
Tucker’s score was his fourth of the season, while the touchdowns by Vanpool and Brandriff were their first scores of the year.
The defeat not only ended the season, but it also brought the team’s three-game win streak to a halt. Warrenton had defeated Winfield, St. Charles and Borgia headed into play on Friday.
