Moberly’s Season Ends With District Championship Loss to Hannibal

Hannibal defeated Moberly 48-13 in the Class 4, District 4 championship Friday. The Pirates snapped a 6-6 tie with a fourth down conversion one minute into the second quarter.

Brad Boyer with the call of Aneyas Williams’ five-yard catch from Courtland Watson on KWIX and centralmoinfo.com. The freshman Williams recorded an unofficial seven receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Moberly previously tied the game four minutes into the contest.

Senior Dominic Stoneking completed 10 of 22 passes for 92 yards and three interceptions. Toby Short closed a stellar senior season with 38 yards. Hannibal followed Moberly’s touchdown with 27 unanswered points before Spartan senior Jarrett Kinder trimmed the deficit to 34-13 with a nine-yard run four minutes into the third quarter. Three of the Pirates’ first four touchdowns developed from drives that started inside the Spartan 40, including a fumble recovery on Moberly’s 11. Spartans head coach Cody McDowell addressed the first half difficulties.

Moberly trailed 34-6 at the half. McDowell noted Hannibal senior running back Damien French found success on the perimeter.

French provided 230 yards and four touchdowns on 23 attempts. The Spartans finished 8-2 with an NCMC championship. Moberly graduates 14 seniors, many of whom were significant contributors on both sides of the football.

Sophomore Derieus Wallace offered a glimpse of the future with four catches for 46 yards. Wallace also delivered a defensive strip that landed Moberly deep in Hannibal territory before Kinder’s touchdown. 8-2 Hannibal avenged its 14-13 regular season loss versus Moberly. Hannibal played without head coach Quentin Hamner, who missed the game due to personal reasons. The Pirates meet the winner of Saturday’s MICDS-St. Dominic matchup in the state quarterfinals. Hear Cody McDowell’s full postgame interview below.

Moberly head coach Cody McDowell: