In a game that technically didn’t count but one coaches use to evaluate their teams, the Parklane Academy Pioneers scored six touchdowns compared to Adams County Christian School’s three Friday morning on Parklane’s practice field.
No one kept score for the scrimmage in which both teams alternated series of 10 consecutive offensive plays before the other took a turn.
“I think we ran the ball well,” said Parklane head coach Brian Stutzman. “I say we stalled out, but when we were in our double wing, we were getting five or six yards a pop, but when you got 10 plays, sometimes that’s not enough to score. We blocked well.
“For the most part, I thought our backs hit the hole hard and ran and broke some tackles. I was pleased overall with the offense.”
Parklane’s first score came on the first set of plays when Trent Coleman busted loose from about 20 yards out for a score.
Fullback Kyrin Bickham later scored from nearly six yards out. Leading up to Bickham’s score, Brandt Watson quarterback connected with tight end Newlon Gillihan for 30 yards.
The Pioneers’ defense held Adams County scoreless for most of the scrimmage, while causing turnovers and disrupting the offense along the way.
Jay Smith and Collin Reed intercepted passes during the contest and defensive end Zach Wall forced a fumble.
“Defensively, we flew to the ball a little better, but the running back from ACCS is a lot like No. 1 (Ja’Shawn Sheffield) from Frederica that we play,” Stutzman said of an upcoming jamboree against Frederica Academy (Ga.) on Aug. 11 in Montgomery, Ala. “It gave us a good look and we need to do a better job of breaking down and tackling. Overall it was a good effort.”
Mason Stinson caught a pass and broke tackles on the way to another score.
Backup quarterback Braxton Cooksey connected with Zach Wall for a touchdown from nearly 10 yards out.
On Parklane’s last set of plays, Bickham scored from about 50 yards away followed by Coleman scoring from 40 yards out on the ground.
The Pioneers are gearing up for their jamboree matchup in the Southeastern Commission of Independent Schools’ football kickoff classic before they start the season on the road Aug. 18 against Simpson Academy.
Stutzman said although Friday’s scrimmage didn’t mean anything in terms of wins and losses, it gave him a chance to view his team from a different perspective.
“I want to make sure they are playing 110 percent,” he said. “I know they are going to make some mistakes because it’s the first time we’ve lined up against somebody else. I want to make sure they are blocking somebody because just standing around and doing nothing is not gonna work. Just getting some live snaps because you can’t simulate that in practice.”
