WS Chronicle

Photos by Timothy Ramsey

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

The JV clash between Parkland and Reynolds lived up to all of the pregame hype surrounding it.  With both teams calling Deaton Thompson Stadium home, both teams had large crowds come out to cheer them on.  The Demons were able to triumph 35-22, but the game was closer than the score may indicate.

Parkland started the game off with a little trickery by kicking an onside kick and recovering the ball on the initial kick off of the game. Though catching Reynolds off guard, the Mustangs were not able to score any points off of the early gift.

Reynolds stuck to their bread and butter by running the ball as they have all season long.  Shaheim Revel and Desmond Hood ran hard all game long.  The Demons were able to score first when quarterback Mysta Goodloe completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Tobias Johnson off of a well-executed play action to put them up 6-0.

Parkland’s dynamic running back Zyheir Dillard was kept under wraps by the Demon defense early as he was not able to find much daylight.  He was able to break loose later in the quarter and led the Mustangs down the field, where they were able to score a field goal to make the score 6-3 to end the first quarter.

Parkland head coach Lamont Atwater says his varsity coaches have been working with Dillard in order to get him to run up field more often instead of looking to bounce every run to the outside looking for the homerun carry.

Reynolds continued to pile up yardage on the ground and points on the scoreboard when Hood scores from 15 yards out to bring the score to 13-3. Following a fumble by the Demons, the Mustangs continued to ride Dillard. Two plays into the drive Dillard found a hole and scampered 25 yards and found the end zone to bring them within 3.

The Mustangs scored another touchdown before the end of the half, giving them a 16-13 lead going into intermission. Reynolds head coach Rod Dunlap says he was not surprised by the tenacity the Mustangs played with all game but happy his team was able to hang on to the victory.

“Sometimes we are a little immature and that’s what we showed.  We got up early and the guys got complacent so we knuckled down and got on them at halftime and made some minor adjustments,” said Dunlap.  “We are a second-half team, for some reason we are a second-half team and we like to grind and we won’t give up until it’s zeros on the clock and that’s what they showed.”

Starting the second half neither offense was able to sustain a scoring drive. Reynolds running back Desmond Hood changed that running one in from the 12 to give the lead back to the Demons 21-16. Mustang quarterback Tyrone Barber quickly answered the Reynolds score with a touchdown pass to Chase Rorie early in the final quarter to give them the lead once again at 22-21.

The turning point in the game was a fumble by the Mustangs deep in their own territory.  The fourth quarter turnover led to the go ahead Reynolds touchdown putting them up 29-22. The Demons added another touchdown late in the game to seal the win.

Coach Atwater says they spoke about overcoming adversity all week in practice and to fight hard to find the end zone.

“As far as coming back and mentally staying tough they knew we had this game,” said Atwater.  “I think Reynolds knows they got a gift. It was a good game but we were facing a lot of guys with a lot of experience.”

Parkland will face off against Reagan for their next game.  Reynolds will take on Mt. Tabor, their cross town rival, in a battle of the unbeatens.