Turnovers plagued the Parklane Academy football team for the second straight week in a 41-21 road loss against Madison-Ridgeland Academy Friday night gridiron action at Madison.
The loss dropped the Pioneers to 2-2 on the season while the Patriots improved to 3-1.
It was the Pioneers’ second consecutive loss, finishing 1-2 in a three-game road stretch.
The Pioneers won 42-13 at Centreville in the second week of the season. They lost last week 45-0 in Hattiesburg against Presbyterian Christian School. Parklane did win their lone home game 37-12 over Simpson Academy to open the season.
“Turnovers,” Parklane head coach Brian Stutzman said when asked what the difference in the game was. “The defense was on the field too much because of the turnovers.”
Parklane had four turnovers in the first half on three fumbles and one interception. That put the Pioneers in a hole that they could not overcome as MRA did all of their scoring in the first-half in route to a 41-0 lead at halftime.
MRA quarterback Hunter Hulsey capitalized on the Parklane generosity going 11 of 14 passing for 155 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Patriots running back Jake Reeves added rushing scores of two yards and 26 yards to complete the MRA scoring.
The Pioneers offense did get on track coming out of the locker room after half time to put up 21 unanswered points in the final two quarters of action.
“The team played hard the second half and did not turn the ball over,” Stutzman said.
Parklane running back Jay Smith led the offense with 11 carries for 106 rushing yards and two long touchdown runs of 40 yards and 25 yards. Pioneer quarterback Brandt Watson added a 53-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Cam Johnson. Tailback Trent Coleman also contributed 30 rushing yards on eight carries.
Though it was a tough loss, Stutzman saw some bright sides about the game.
“Trent Coleman and Jay Smith both ran the ball hard for us,” Stutzman said. “I thought Brandt Watson threw the ball well tonight. We just turned the ball over too much.”
For the game Parklane totaled 35 plays for 193 yards and nine first downs compared to MRA’s 53 plays for 306 yards and 15 first downs.
The Pioneers will be back at home when they return to the friendly confines of Charlie Newlon Field at Cowart Smith Stadium on the Parklane campus this Friday night.
“We are looking forward to ending this three game road trip and getting back at home next week,” Stutzman said.
The Pioneers host Natchez Cathedral at 7 p.m. Friday in a non-conference matchup. The Green Wave will also bring a 2-2 record into the contest after winning at Brookhaven Academy 34-20 on Friday.
