JACKSON — Parklane Academy head football coach Bo Milton believes the Pioneers will have a solid 2009 season.
Milton said he remains confident that his senior-laden team will bounce back from its 47-20 season-opening loss to host Jackson Academy on Friday night.
“The effort from the kids was great, but we made a lot of first-game mistakes you can’t make against a team like that,” Milton said. “But I think we’ll learn from those mistakes. We have a senior-led team that I think can and will learn from our mistakes. We have a good football team and we’ll be OK.”
Trailing just 6-0 after the first quarter, the Pioneers managed to stay close. Senior running back Josh Armstreet kept Parklane in the game with a pair of 8-yard scoring runs in the second period that pulled the Pioneers to within 20-14 just before halftime.
Armstreet led the Pioneers’ ground attack, rushing 15 times for 77 yards.
Parklane was on the verge of taking the lead, but an interception gave Jackson Academy possession.
The host team then went down and scored a touchdown in the closing moments of the first half to extend its lead to 26-14 at halftime.
“That was the turning point of the game,” Milton said.
Jackson Academy took control in the third period, scoring a pair of touchdowns to extend its lead to 40-14.
Parklane scored a final touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard sneak from senior quarterback Chance Schmidt.
For the game, Schmidt rushed 15 times for 55 yards and was 6-of-11 passing.
Pioneeers’ backup quarterback Steven Swindle completed 10-of-20 passes.
Things don’t get any easier for the Pioneers. They will host defending Class 2A state champion Centreville Academy on Friday night at 7.
