The Parkway Panthers hung with defending select Division III state champion Dunham for a half Friday. But the Tigers from Baton Rouge dominated the second half en route to a 55-15 victory in a season opener at Independence Stadium.
The Panthers trailed 20-15 at the half, but sophomore Thad Smith’s 37-yard field goal on the final play gave them some momentum.
That didn’t last long, though. Dunham took the second-half kickoff and drove 76 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers recovered a short kickoff and scored again on a 44-yard run.
The two TDs in just over two minutes gave Dunham a 35-15 lead. It was 42-15 going into the fourth.
Dunham senior quarterback Elijah Haven, an Alabama commit generally considered the top recruit in the nation in the Class of 2027, hurt the Panthers as much with his running as passing.
He ripped off long gains on either scrambles or designed runs. Several times Parkway appeared to have him trapped in the backfield only to see him make a quick move and escape.
Chasing Haven wore down the defense in the brutal heat in the second half. The temperature was in the high 90s at the 5 p.m. kickoff.
Haven rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two.
Parkway’s defense had some success, though, in the first half with two interceptions.
The Panthers offense also had success. Braxxton Black, one of several players who suffered leg cramps, made some nice runs.
After Dunham scored first, Bryston McCoy completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Gary Burney. The Panthers took advantage of the first interception, going 28 yards for a 12-7 lead.
But Haven gained 61 yards on a draw and scrambled 16 yards for a touchdown to give Dunham the lead for good.
Parkway had two promising drives in the first half end inside the Tigers 35 on fourth down plays.
Burney, an LSU commit, was usually double and sometimes triple covered.
Parkway visits Loyola Friday. The Flyers defeated Captain Shreve 55-34 in their season opener.
Note: This report will be updated with stats when they are received.