This wasn’t exactly how Parklane Academy’s nine seniors wanted to go out on Senior Night.
Hattiesburg’s Presbyterian Christian School forced six Parklane turnovers, two miscues of which were returned for touchdowns, as the Bobcats handed the Pioneers a 34-8 defeat at Cowart-Smith Stadium Charlie Newlon Field. The loss killed any hope Parklane had of making the MAIS AAA playoffs.
The Bobcats drew first blood, scoring on a 23-yard fumble return by Dakota Harvey 9:58 before halftime. Harvey’s 45-yard interception return midway through the final quarter led to Parklane’s side of the stands start to clear out. One other interception resulted in a PCS touchdown for a 20-0 halftime lead.
The loss dropped Parklane to 5-4 overall, 1-3 in district action. PCS improved to 6-3, 4-1.
“PCS has got a great football team. We made too many turnovers to win,” Parklane coach Bo Milton said. “We gave them a short field a couple of other times. Fumble returns and an interception return for scores are hard things to overcome. You can’t expect to turn the ball over like that and expect to beat a good football team.”
Despite the 20-0 deficit at halftime, Parklane appeared it was about to get back in the game shortly after the third quarter began. On the second play from scrimmage, junior Justin Brent broke two tackles at the line of scrimmage and raced 76 yards for the touchdown.
Lined up in the swinging gate, Brady Lea ran it in for the two-point conversion with only 35 seconds into the quarter.
“We did some good things early, but turnovers messed up the plan,” Milton said. “Justin had a heck of a run and had good blocking downfield. Justin is going to give you 100 percent every time he’s out there, just like the others. We just couldn’t do what we needed to do.”
Trailing 7-0, Parklane’s Taylor Smith’s 38-yard punt pinned the Bobcats at their own 1. However, on the third play, sophomore Lee Sigrest ripped 91 yards off tackle for a touchdown 5:49 before halftime. Troy Waites kicked the second of four successful PATs for a 14-0 advantage.
“That was kind of a nail there,” Milton said. “That changed the game before halftime. That was a great play by them.”
“That was a big play. (Parklane) had it defensed perfectly,” PCS coach Joey Hawkins said. “(Sigrest) can do things like that. He can make a play when there is no play.
“But I really think Parklane’s turnovers were really the difference in the game,” Hawkins added. “Honestly, on 50 percent of the plays, they whipped us and we whipped them on 50 percent of the plays. We just found a few more ways to get the ball into the end zone. We’re thankful to win.”
Daniel Patterson’s interception at the PA 46 just before the half put the Bobcats in motion toward their third touchdown. PCS put together a 6-play scoring drive, capped by a 20-yard run for the score by Stephen Jones. Zach Smith broke through the line to block the PAT.
After a Parklane punt, PCS marched 80 yards in 12 plays to score in the third quarter. Blake Graves scored from 23 yards out 1:43 before the end of the third. The Bobcats overcame to major penalties during the drive.
Harvey’s 45-yard interception return for a score came with 6:07 left. The pass bounced off the intended receiver’s shoulder pads and into Harvey’s hands.
Parklane managed 313 total yards, including 239 yards rushing.
“We’re getting there,” Milton said. “We ran the ball better this week than the week before. I thought our effort was good, but you just can’t turn the ball over.”
Parklane visits Copiah Academy next Friday.
