After its 2024 squad produced a magical run to claim the program’s first state title in 30 years, Parklane kicked off what it hopes is another memorable postseason stay by pulling away from Starkville Academy for a 26-0 win in the MAIS 4A D-II semifinals on Friday.
Fresh off a first-round bye, the top-seeded Pioneers (10-1) shut out the Volunteers (7-5) for the second time this season, as they had previously taken down the visitors by a score of 37-0 in late September.
The defensive tone of this game was set from the start, as neither offense was able to move the ball consistently during the first half.
An opening 3-and-out by Starkville was answered by a promising drive from Parklane, as some tough running from senior tailback Tanner Kyzar moved the ball into Volunteer territory.
But after a third-down pass by senior quarterback Braxton Hughes was tipped and fell incomplete, a muffed snap on the ensuing field-goal try kept zeroes on the board.
The disappointing end to the possession did little to disrupt the Pioneer defense’s momentum, however. A backwards pass resulted in negative yardage for the visitors on their first play, and after senior Jace Jones broke up a throw, fellow linebacker Nick Young shut a screen down in the backfield to force another punt.
And this time, head coach Ron Rushing’s offense was able to take advantage. Hughes found dynamic receiver Davis Carruth on a slant for an explosive play, and Kyzar proceeded to rip off a roughly 20-yard touchdown run to make the score read 6-0 with 6:20 left in the opening quarter.
But as alluded to, the first half became a stalemate from there.
“I thought we were a bit too overconfident, because after Tanner scored early they started hitting us in the mouth,” senior tight end Kyle Rushing said. “And we kinda got down on ourselves and lost a lot of energy. They had more fire and wanted it more.”
Young again picked up a tackle for loss by stringing a runner out to the edge, and even after Starkville managed to move into Parklane territory thanks to a chunk gain through the air, defensive coordinator Robert Young’s unit held firm.
Junior safety Eli Chandler nearly came up with an interception in the end zone, and a holding call on the next play set up a 3rd-and-19. With the Pioneers’ front seven being free to pin its ears back, junior end Wick Lindsey was the first to the quarterback as the visitors were forced to punt yet again.
“This was really nothing new, we’ve been doing this all year,” Lindsey said of the pass rush. “And we knew our offense was gonna catch its step eventually.”
The stalemate continued for the time being however, as Parklane punted before senior nose guard Paw Forrest recorded a tackle for loss that helped give his team the ball right back.
But in return, Starkville’s defense came up with a clutch 4th-and-1 stop after Kyzar had driven the ball into opposing territory. With Rushing and his staff leaning on their defense and ground attack during the opening half, the game became a contest of who could avoid a crucial mistake.
“Going in, we thought we’d be good defensively, so I was a little conservative because of that and the play-calling was on me in the first half,” Ron Rushing said. “I gotta get the ball to our athletes so I put this all on me, but a lot of credit to Starkville because they had a great gameplan.”
But regardless of the offense’s early struggles, Young’s defense had its back. This time, bruising edge rusher Telvin Jefferson recorded a sack that got the Vols off the field, and when the visitors got the ball merely minutes later, Forrest got back into the mix with a backfield takedown.
“It [the D-line] is really something special, because we all have so much chemistry and are friends with each other,” Lindsey said of the unit. “We’ve put in so much work and have trust because of it.”
As the first half was coming to a close, Parklane lined up to punt near the 50-yard line. Carruth, who had not made his usual offensive impact up to this point, took it upon himself to contribute in some form when he pinned a kick at the one-yard line with no need for a player to down it.
With Parklane’s defense having set up shop in the backfield all night long, it seemed like a prime chance for the unit to steal two points just before the break.
Instead, Starkville’s tailback burst through the line for the longest play of the night, and another solid run set the visitors up at the Pioneers’ 25-yard line with 18 seconds left.
But with their backs against the wall yet again, Parklane’s defense proved why it’s now been able to pitch five shutouts this season. When the Volunteers’ quarterback dropped back to pass, junior linebacker Jay Alldredge shot through the line like a missile and brought the half to a close with a momentum-shifting sack.
“We just needed to pick up our guys on offense and have their backs,” Alldredge said. “Because they’ve had our backs before too.”
Alldredge’s pivotal play–along with what was likely a strong halftime message—seemed to spark the top-seeded side in the third quarter.
Rushing’s offense received the ball coming out of the half, and the offensive line proceeded to lead the charge in manufacturing a six-minute scoring drive.
Kyzar churned out yardage before sophomore Parker Winge spelled him, and the duo combined to move the ball all the way into the red zone.
And just when Starkville’s defenders were keying in on the duo of tailbacks, Hughes decided to keep a read-option and muscled his way through multiple defenders for a score.
Desperate for a response, the visitors got tricky. They appeared to be lining up to punt on a 4th-and-1, but a fumblerooski-type handoff allowed them to push ahead for a first down.
Yet per the theme of the night, Parklane’s defense quickly shut down the promising drive. On this occasion, it was Jefferson producing a personal highlight reel, as he was held to set up a third-and-long before he finished the job with a sack.
“They really just flat out got after it,” Rushing said. “We’re back to playing defense like we were.”
Taking a 13-0 lead into the final frame, the Pioneers again needed a defensive stand. Starkville drove past the 50 looking to make this a single-score game, but a desperation pass on a 4th-down attempt fell into the hands of junior Dooley Copeland.
And to seal the deal, do-it-all senior Brennan Ellison took a handoff and scampered downfield to make the score 19-0 with 8:33 left in the game.
Starkville needed quick points to stay in the game, but their ensuing possession progressed in almost the exact same fashion every other one did. A big play moved the visitors into Parklane territory, but the next snap saw Alldredge step in front of pass to record an interception of his own.
“I saw the D-line flushed the QB out, and I just had my eyes on him,” Alldredge said of the play. “I knew he was either gonna try to throw it away or get it to the guy.”
And to put the cherry on top of this semifinal win, the Pioneer passing attack produced a highlight when Hughes and Kyle Rushing diagnosed the defense and connected for a touchdown over the middle.
“We put that play in two weeks ago, and I had heard the coverage they were in,” the son of the coach said. “So I was giving signals to my dad in trying to figure it out, and he waved, looked around and called it. I thought ‘there’s no way,’ but I hit it.”
“A lot of times I tell him stuff, and he just looks at me and tells me to shut up,” Kyle added with a smile. “But he finally listened to me, and we scored!”
The result moves the all-time record between the schools to 7-1 in favor of Parklane.
The Pioneers next face third-seeded Heritage Academy (10-2) in the championship bout of the MAIS 4A D-II playoffs. That game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, from Jackson Academy.
“We’ve said it all year,” Rushing explained when previewing the title clash. “We just have to put four quarters together and play disciplined.”
