High school football in Missouri is basically a religion, especially when December rolls around and everyone hauls their heaters and blankets to St. Joseph. The 2025 season just wrapped up with some of the most insane finishes we've seen in years, and if you're looking for mo high school football scores, you probably already know that the Class 5 and Class 6 games were absolute heart-stoppers.
Honestly, the energy at Spratt Memorial Stadium was something else this year. You've got small towns traveling three hours just to see if their boys can finally bring home a ring, and then you've got the big suburban powerhouses trying to keep their dynasties alive. It's a lot of pressure for 17-year-olds. But man, did they deliver.
The Chaos of the Class 6 Finale
Most people expected the Class 6 title game to be a defensive grind, but Lee's Summit and Nixa had other plans. It was a shootout. Pure and simple. Lee's Summit ended up taking it 41-37 in a game that felt like it had about five different endings.
Nixa was the favorite for a lot of folks. They came in 13-0, looking like an absolute juggernaut. But Lee's Summit, who had a bit of a rollercoaster 10-4 season leading up to the final, just wouldn't go away. Preston Hatfield was the story of the night. The kid put up numbers that look like a video game: 457 rushing yards on 33 carries. He had a 89-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that literally silenced the Nixa side of the bleachers.
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Nixa's Adam McKnight did everything he could, throwing for four touchdowns and keeping them in it until the very last whistle. But that 41-37 final score is going to be talked about in Lee's Summit for a long, long time. It’s their first title since way back in 1985.
Platte County’s Overtime Thriller in Class 5
If the Class 6 game was a shootout, the Class 5 matchup between Platte County and Carthage was a heavyweight brawl. Platte County won 34-28 in overtime, but that barely scratches the surface.
You’ve got to feel for Carthage. They fought back from being down to force overtime at 28-28. Zane Browning and Landon West were absolute workhorses for the Tigers, combining for nearly 200 yards on the ground. But Platte County is just... they're different. They came in as the preseason #1 and stayed there the whole year. Even when their star quarterback, Rocco Marriott, dealt with an injury during the game, they found a way.
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- Final Score: Platte County 34, Carthage 28 (OT)
- The Hero: Adam Gisler, who had a 98-yard touchdown run that shifted the entire momentum.
- The Legacy: This was Platte County's second straight title and their 28th win in a row.
Kinda wild when you think about it. Running the table as the #1 team is nearly impossible because everyone is gunning for you every single Friday night.
A Quick Look at the Other Classes
The scores across the board were just as lopsided in some places and tight in others. Here is how the rest of the MSHSAA state championships shook out:
- Class 4: Kearney edged out Hannibal 21-14. This was a classic defensive struggle. Kearney finished a perfect 14-0, and their defense was just too much for Hannibal to crack in the fourth quarter.
- Class 3: Seneca took down Lift for Life 33-26. After losing in the finals the last two years, Seneca finally got their trophy.
- Class 2: Blair Oaks absolutely dominated St. Pius X (Festus) with a 59-0 shutout. Honestly, Blair Oaks probably could have competed in Class 4 or 5 this year. They are that good.
- Class 1: Tipton beat Putnam County 39-14 to secure their first-ever state title.
- 8-Man: Worth County won a high-scoring affair against Rock Port, 56-46.
Why These Scores Matter More Than Just Numbers
Look, it's easy to just refresh a scoreboard app and see who won. But in Missouri, these mo high school football scores tell a story about community. When Tipton won their first title, the entire town was basically empty because everyone was in St. Joseph.
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There's also the technical side of it. MSHSAA has been using replay more effectively, but it still causes plenty of drama. In the Class 5 game, there were two huge calls that went to replay—one involving a fumble in the end zone that went Carthage’s way. Coaches are still getting used to the "NFL-style" scrutiny at the high school level.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason
The 2025 season is over, but for the real fans, the work starts now. If you're a player or a parent looking at these scores and wondering how to get on that podium next year, here’s what the data from this year’s winners shows:
- Rushing is still king. Almost every winner this year had a dominant ground game. Whether it was Hatfield's 400+ yards or Blair Oaks' relentless attack, you have to be able to run the ball when the Missouri weather turns cold in November.
- Schedule strength counts. Lee's Summit had four losses in the regular season but won the Class 6 title. Why? Because they played one of the toughest schedules in the state. Don't be afraid of a "bad" record if it prepares you for the playoffs.
- Special teams often decide the close ones. In the Kearney vs. Hannibal game, field position and a massive kickoff return TD were the difference-makers.
If you want to keep up with player rankings and who might be the next Jackson Cantwell (the Missouri POY), start following the local scouts now. The 2026 season will be here before we know it, and the road to St. Joseph starts in the weight room this January.
The most important thing to remember is that these scores are permanent now. The history books are written for 2025. Whether your team won or lost, the parity in Missouri football is at an all-time high, making it one of the best states in the country for Friday night lights.