Fort Osage falls to Francis Howell in Missouri Class 5 state championship football game

Fort Osage had no answer for Francis Howell quarterback Adam Shipley.

Shipley carried the ball 24 times for 268 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 49-21 victory and the St. Louis school’s first Class 5 state championship at Faurot Field on Friday.

“They came out fast and caught us off-guard,” Fort Osage coach Brock Bult said. “It took us a long time to recover. They were a really good team … really good team. They made a lot of good players and made a lot of good plays. … We didn’t make enough.”

To Bult’s point, the Vikings wasted no time scoring on their first drive of the game: Shipley capped the seven-play, 73-yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown to give Francis Howell an early 7-0 lead.

After struggling to muster any offense on its first series of the game, Fort Osage turned to sophomore running Ryver Peppers. Peppers diced his way through the Francis Howell defense for an 80 yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

The lead didn’t last long as Francis Howell continued to attack the Indians’ defense on the ground. This team it was senior running back Brady Hultman who provided the fireworks. With his team facing a second-and-1 at Fort Osage’s 43-yard line, Hultman ripped off a 57-yard touchdown run to give the Vikings a 14-7 lead midway through the first quarter.

Fort Osage threatened to tie the game to start the second quarter, but an untimely turnover changed the complexion of the game.

Facing second and 3, Fort Osage quarterback Greg Menne called his own number and picked up the first down ... but Francis Howell’s defense stripped the ball out of his hands. It was scooped up by Bryant Thomas, who returned it to the Fort Osage 46-yard line.

The Vikings needed just eight plays to capitalize on the mistake as Shipley connected with Missouri pledge Brett Norfleet for an 11-yard touchdown and a 21-7 Francis Howell lead.

“It was a big play,” Bult said. “Yes, our offense was starting to roll. Any time you get a turnover in a game like this, it’s a big play. When you can steal a possession or stop another team in that situation… when you’re playing teams that good there’s no room for mistakes.”

Shipley added to the Vikings’ lead midway through the second quarter on a 58-yard run. Francis Howell then pushed the lead to 35-7 as Shipley threw his second touchdown pass to Norfleet.

Fort Osage came out swinging in the second half. The Indians caught Francis Howell sleeping on special teams, recovering an onside kick to start the third quarter. Menne scored a few plays on a 5-yard run to cut the lead to 35-14.

By that time, it was too little, too late for the Indians. But Menne said he was proud of how he and his teammates responded after a slow start.

“I wouldn’t want to do what I’ve done with anyone else,” he said.