The Parkway Panthers defeated the Benton Tigers 46-27 in a District 1-5A game Friday night at Bobby Marlow Field at Preston Crownover Stadium.
Parkway, which ended a two-game slide, improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in district. Benton dropped to 3-4 and 1-3.
The game was tight in the first half with Parkway leading 14-7. Parkway led 39-13 early in the fourth quarter. The Tigers scored two touchdowns, including a pick six, and recovered an onside kick with over three minutes left. But Parkway sealed the victory with a stop on fourth down.
After stopping Benton on fourth-and-7 at the Panthers 18 on the Tigers’ first possession of the game, Parkway drove 82 yards for a touchdown.
Bryston McCoy completed four passes on the drive, including a 42-yard strike to Tristan Sedberry to the Benton 2. Damian Decaldecal scored on the next play and then ran for the two-point conversion.
Benton answered with an 18-play, 90-yard touchdown drive capped by a 9-yard pass from Malachi Zeigler to Madden Raymond. Jake Wroten added the extra point.
Decaldecal returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to the Benton 9. He carried three times to the 2 and scored on fourth down. A two-point conversion attempt failed and Parkway led 14-7 with 5:51 left in the half,
The Tigers then drove from their 34 to first down at the Panthers 5 in 15 plays. On second down from the 5 with 10 seconds left, Parkway linebacker Kaden Pugh intercepted a pass at the goalline.
The Panthers extended the lead to 22-7 on their first possession of the second half. Decaldecal gained 26 yards to the 7 and scored on the next play. Davodreck Davis Jr. scored the two-point conversion.
After a short punt, Parkway drove 38 yards for a touchdown. Decaldecal scored from 1 yard out and Thad Smith’s PAT put the Panthers on top 29-7.
Benton answered with a 63-yard touchdown drive capped by a 16-yard pass from Zeigler to Nick Randall . A two-point conversion attempt failed and The Tigers trailed 29-13.with 3:36 left in the third quarter.
Benton got a stop at its 41. But on the next play Dallas Loche intercepted a pass at the Tigers 48.
A hook-and-lateral play gained 23 yards to the 16. On fourth-and-6 from the 12, Smith kicked a 30-yard field goal and Parkway led 32-13 with 11:02 left in the game.
Parkway recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the Benton 31. Decaldecal ran 23 yards to the 4. After a penalty, McCoy completed a 2-yard pass to Tristan Sedberry for the TD. Smith’s PAT gave Parkway a 39-13 lead with 10:04 left in the game.
The Tigers quickly answered. Zeigler hit Raymond for 35 yards and scored on a 36-yard run on the next play. Raymond’s two-point conversion run cut the deficit to 39-21 with 9:34 left.
Parkway recovered an onside kick. But Benton stopped Decaldecal for a 1-yard gain on fourth-and-2 at the Tigers 19.
Zeigler completed passes of 28 yards to Raymond and 26 to Randall. But Gabe Soileau intercepted a halfback pass at the 1 and returned it to the Benton 32.
On fourth-and-7 Josiah McBride intercepted a pass and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. A try for two failed and Benton was within 39-27 with 3:30 left.
The Tigers recovered an onside kick at the 50. But the Panthers forced an incomplete pass on fourth-and-5 with 2:07 left.
Decaldecal then raced 60 yards for a touchdown.
Parkway visits East Ascension Friday. The Spartans (6-1) defeated Live Oak 49-24 Friday night.
Benton hosts Natchitoches Central Friday. The Chiefs (0-7, 0-3) lost to Captain Shreve 40-27 Friday night.