The Parkway Panthers rolled to a 52-24 District 1-5A victory over the Byrd Yellow Jackets Friday night at Lee Hedges Stadium. Parkway improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in district. Byrd dropped to 1-4 and 0-4.
The Panthers offense was virtually unstoppable from the start. Parkway piled up 492 total yards.
Byrd scored first on a 50-yard field goal by Asher Murray. Braxxton Black then returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
The Yellow Jackets ran the veer to perfection on their next drive and took a 10-8 lead.
But the Panthers answered with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kaleb Williams to Antonio Gladney.
Parkway was successful on a two-point conversion attempt and went up 16-10.
The Panthers extended the lead to 24-10 on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Gladney and another two-point conversion.
It looked like Byrd was going to cut into the lead, but the Jackets fumbled on first-and-goal at the 1.
Williams then hit Gary Burney for 78 yards and a touchdown to give the Panthers a 31-10 lead. Byrd scored a touchdown but the Panthers answered again and led 38-17 at the half.
Parkway’s defense stepped up in the second half against the Jackets’ veer. Byrd didn’t score again until late in the game.
The Jackets only threw one pass and it was intercepted by Cam Hines.
Williams had another stellar outing. He completed 19-of-22 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Burney had six receptions for 157 yards and the touchdown. Gladney had six for 104 and the two TDs.
Damian Decaldecal rushed for 61 yards on seven carries and scored two touchdowns . Black had 48 on five and a touchdown. AJ Johnson had 39 on five.
Black, Burney and Rod Johnson Scored two-point conversions. Johnson, normally a defensive end, caught a pass from Williams after going uncovered. Thad Smith kicked four extra points.
Linebacker Colby Lee led the defense with 16 total tackles. Linebacker Brady Pine had 12. Defensive end Nate Kemp had 10.
Cornerback Peyton Rayner and safety Dallas Loche had nine and eight, respectively. Rayner also forced a fumble and recovered one. Safety Josh Coleman recovered a fumble.
Parkway hosts Airline Thursday. The Vikings 3-2, 1-2) lost to Captain Shreve 66-56 Friday night.