It was a dominant performance up and down for Parklane Academy as the Pioneers earned a 49-14 district win at home against Hillcrest Christian School from Jackson on Friday night.
The Pioneers (5-4, 1-1) were coming off a 24-21 loss against Copiah Academy but bounced back for its first district win. The first half is all the Pioneers needed in the win jumping out to a 42-0 halftime lead.
Parklane’s secondary stood out, holding Cougars’ quarterback Mayowa Asagunla to a 48 percent completion rating, going 15 for 31 for 222 yards.
“I thought our pass coverage was good,” Pioneers’ head coach Brian Stutzman said. “Kyle Dorr had a pick and the secondary made some contact. It was just an overall good night for our team.”
The Pioneers’ rushing attack had yet another big night rushing for 389 yards. Junior Running backs Jay Smith (5 feet, 10 inches, 210 pounds) and Trent Coleman (5-8 ,160) combined for 216 yards and three touchdowns on just 19 carries. Junior quarterback Brandt Watson (6-1, 190) also added two rushing touchdowns of his own.
“Both running backs ran the ball well,” Stutzman said. “We had several kids in the third and fourth quarter that got out there and did a good job, but that starts up front with the line. I thought the line blocked well tonight.”
Parklane had the luxury of putting some younger players in the second half due to the 42-0 lead at halftime.
“It’s nothing like game experience and they got to play the last two quarters and we got to watch them,” Stutzman said. “It was good for everybody.”
Freshman running back Ben Myrick (5-9, 170) ran the ball five times for 58 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Taylor Boyd (5-11, 135) ran the ball twice for 10 yards and freshman wide receiver Taylor Alford (5-8, 135) ran the ball twice for 10 yards.
The Pioneers opened the scoring in the first quarter jumping out in front to a 21-0 lead. Parklane marched down the field on the opening drive of the game and capped off the drive with a Smith 7-yard touchdown run making the score 6-0.
The Pioneers’ secondary spoiled the Cougars’ (3-7, 0-3) first drive of the game as defensive back Dorr (5-10, 165) intercepted a pass and returned it to the 43-yard line. Parklane fumbled on the next drive giving the ball right back to Hillcrest, but the Pioneer defense stood tall forcing a three and out.
Following the punt, Coleman burst up field though the Cougars’ defense, scoring a 41-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the drive and making the score 14-0 after a Smith 2-point conversion run.
Watson had a 21-yard run that set up a 16-yard touchdown run by himself, extending the score to 21-0.
The Cougars had a chance to score but a holding penalty called back an 8-yard touchdown run. Hillcrest was forced to go for it on a fourth-and-goal from the 6 yard line, but senior defensive back Ben Lampton broke up the passage forcing a turnover on downs.
The Parklane offense continued to roll as Smith scored on a 12-yard touchdown run for their third straight touchdown drive making the score 28-0.
A Watson 2-yard touchdown run and a 2-yard run by Braydon Coffey made the score 42-0 going into the locker room.
Hillcrest started the second half with a fumble, which Lampton recovered, setting up a 4-yard run by Drew Parish to make the score 49-0 to conclude the scoring for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers will be at home against Oak Forest Academy from Amite, La., on Friday in a district game for senior night and the regular-season finale with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
