Last year, the Haughton Bucs couldn’t find a way to win games that were tight in the fourth quarter.
What a difference a year makes.
When Parkway cut an 18-point deficit to five in the third quarter Thursday night, Haughton had an answer.
The Bucs drove 45 yards, converting a fourth down in the process, for a touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Taylor Weathersby to CT Woodard and went on to win 55-36 at Bobby Marlow Field at Preston Crownover Stadium.
Haughton improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in District 1-5A. It’s the first time since the 2019 season the Bucs have won their first five games. It was also the first victory over Parkway since 2020.
Parkway dropped to 3-2 and 1-1.
The Bucs overcame a huge performance from Parkway quarterback Bryston McCoy, who completed 25-of-35 passes for 400 yards and four touchdowns.
“I think a lot of the difference is just experience,” Haughton Head Coach Matthew Sewell said. “Those guys have a lot of games under their belt and what comes with experience is just, you know, being bigger, being stronger, and those guys have worked really hard to kind of be in position to have success in those situations.
“I just think of so many times the last two years where we were in situations to make a play to win and we just couldn’t do it. … Those guys are pretty tough. They’ve been through a lot in the last couple years.”
Haughton had plenty of heroes. You have to start with Brandon Craig. Taking the direct snap from center, the senior scored seven touchdowns, giving him 11 in just the last two games. He rushed for 197 yards on 32 carries.
Weathersby hit some big passes to keep drives alive. He completed 11-of-18 for 190 yards and rushed for 49 yards on nine carries.
“Taylor, he’s played so much football for us,” Sewell said. “He’s fearless and we know when the balls in his hands we’ve got a chance to make a play. And every single time that we needed to throw it tonight, he stepped up.
“He’s matured a lot and he’s really tough kid and played great the last two weeks.”
Ethan Johnson, Case Corkern, Woodard and Craig all had big receptions.
Johnson caught a 13-yard pass on fourth-and-5 from the Parkway 40 on the touchdown drive after Parkway got within five.
Sewell said that was probably the play of the game.
Corkern had three catches for 64 yards. Johnson had three for 57. Woodard had three for 44.
The Haughton offensive line — Hugh Turnage, Jaden Keith, Greysen Daughtery, Grant Gullo, Jaxon Raley and Jakob Frasier — did their part.
“To be honest with you, they have just absolutely dominated us up front for about five years now,” Sewell said of the Panthers line. “And so we knew that’s where the game was going to be won or lost. So we challenged those guys up front and they answered the call.”
When Craig took the direct snap, defensive players Sage Kinney, Jameson Voigt, Colton Bedgood and Isaac Jennings lined up as tight ends.
The defense gave up some yards but it got some stops with the game on the line.
After the Bucs took the 48-36 lead, the Panthers drove into Haughton territory early in the fourth quarter. Parkway had a third-and 4 at the 39. A run appeared to be close to a first down. But a penalty moved the ball back to to the 44.
After an incomplete pass, the Bucs forced a fumble on a scramble. They took over at the Parkway 41 and drove for another touchdown and the 55-36 lead.
Haughton converted a third-and-18 from its 38 on a pass from Weathersby to Craig to keep its first touchdown drive alive.
The Bucs led 13-7 after the first quarter. The Panthers regained the lead on a 7-yard TD reception by Jayden Thompkins and Thad Smith’s PAT.
Parkway looked to grab the momentum when the defense forced a punt. But Haughton recovered a fumble on the return and drove 33 yards for a TD. Craig’s two-point conversion run gave the Bucs a 21-14 lead.
Haughton capitalized on another fumble recovery for a 27-14 lead. Haughton’s final touchdown of the first half came after the Bucs forced a turnover on downs at the Parkway 45. Craig scored his fifth TD of the half with 45 seconds left.
But thanks to some big pass plays and penalties, Parkway got a 34-yard field goal from Smith and trailed 34-17.
The Panthers scored on their first drive of the second half on a 36-yard pass from McCoy to Gary Burney.
Haughton answered in three plays — two pass completions and a 1-yard run by Craig — to go up 41-23.
It didn’t take Parkway long to get back in it. The Panthers drove 80 yards for a touchdown capped by a 20-yard pass from McCoy to Tristan Sedberry.
Parkway forced a three-and-out and marched 84 yards for a touchdown. They converted a third-and-19 after a sack. McCoy hit Gabe Gray in the end zone from 35 yards out and all of a sudden Parkway was within 41-36.
Haughton only had to go 45 yards after Parkway was twice penalized for offsides on the kickoff and 15 on the return,
Gray caught eight passes for 146 yards. Burney had nine for 139. Sedberry had four for 89.
Both teams were hurt by penalties in key situations. It’s also a reason along with all the scoring the game lasted more than three hours, finishing just before rain moved into the area.
Haughton plays its final non-district game next Friday against St. Frederick at home. The Warriors (2-2) play Caldwell Parish Friday night.
Parkway plays Captain Shreve next Friday at Lee Hedges Stadium. The Gators (2-2, 0-1) play Evangel Christian Friday night.