West Platte Blue Jays return to the Gridiron after winning season

WESTON, Mo (KQTV) -- Following a 9-4 season in 2025, The West Platte High School Blue Jay football team looks forward to the return of the friday night lights.

The Jays ended last season in the Class 1 state semi-finals, dropping the game to the Tipton Cardinals.

However, with that success of making the final four, Head Coach Taylor Gallagher is confident in his team after seeing them at practice over the last few weeks.

"That feeling we had last year of being successful, I think it really brought us together," Gallagher said. "It brought people in the community to our games, and believing in our kids. And to be in the conference we're in, with good football teams and coaches, there's not a lot of off weeks."

The team gave a lot of credit to last year's season to the outgoing senior class, and there are still several standouts from last year who are returning this year.

Starting Quarterback Mark Sanders and Wide Receiver Blaze Masoner explained why.

"It's been great watching the young guys step up into bigger roles, cause last year we had a lot of experience from the older guys," Sanders said.

"We all got along, we hung (out) outside of football and I think that's what carried us really far," Masoner said. "We had a lot of chemistry, a lot of dudes that were aggressive and excited. Just having fun on the field was a big thing for everyone."

Something that gives the athletes a big boost in their confidence is the coaching staff that shows up to every practice, game, and extracurricular event.

"We have one of the best coaching staffs in the Kansas City area," Masoner said. "They motivate us, they drive us, and they just help us become the best team we can be."

Veterans on the team have faith that the current experience will be matched by the upcoming potential of the younger athletes.

"We're in a situation where we have a lot of experience on one side, and then we have some really talented kids who just haven't had the game reps," Gallagher said. "It'll be interesting to see how that navigates throughout the season."

North Platte will kick off their season by facing off against the Maysville Wolverines at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28.