The Parkway Panthers defeated the Byrd Yellow Jackets 49-35 Friday night at Bobby Marlow Field at Preston Crownover Stadium.
Parkway improved to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in district. Byrd dropped to 1-8 and 1-4.
Parkway is No. 20 in the non-select Division I power rankings. The Panthers close the regular season Friday at Airline. The Vikings (6-3, 3-2) fell to Evangel Christian 52-42 Friday night. The Panthers will make the playoffs but they need to move up at least four spots to host a first-round game.
Parkway scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions of the game, but the Panthers had trouble shaking off the Yellow Jackets. As most teams have this season, the Panthers had trouble slowing down Byrd’s option offense led by running backs Chris Maxie and Collin Deere.
Parkway forced Byrd to punt on its first two possessions and led14-0 after the first quarter and 21-6 midway through the second. Byrd cut the lead 28-14. The teams again traded touchdowns and the Panthers led 28-21 at the half.
There was more of the same early in the third quarter. Parkway scored twice and Byrd answered each time.
The Panthers led 42-35 after the Jackets scored with 4:29 left in the third quarter.
Parkway extended the lead to 49-35 with 3:02 left.
The game took a turn in the fourth quarter with each defense forcing turnovers.
Parkway linebacker Kaden Pugh had a big tackle for loss and the Panthers forced a turnover on downs. Byrd intercepted a pass in the end zone.
The Panthers forced another turnover on downs at the Byrd 25. The Jackets recovered a fumble at the 4.
Parkway again stopped the Jackets on fourth down after a sack.
Parkway’s touchdown drives covered 79, 76, 70, 64, 73, 72 and 64 yards.
The first TD came on a 48-yard pass from Bryston McCoy to Gary Burney.
McCoy completed a pass to Burney on third-and-13 that gave the Panthers a first down at the 7 on the second drive. Dallas Loche, normally a safety, scored from 5 yards out.
Gabe Gray ran 46 yards on an end around to the Jackets 9 on the third drive. Rod Johnson, normally a defensive end, scored on a 9-yard run.
Damian Decaldecal did most of the work on the fourth drive and scored on a 5-yard run.
Jake Thompkins completed a 43-yard pass to Burney to the Byrd 30 on the first touchdown drive of the third quarter. Decaldecal ran to the 11 and scored on the next play.
Gray had a 24-yard catch then grabbed a 41-yard pass from McCoy on the second drive.
McCoy completed a 34-yard pass to Burney for the final touchdown.
Thad Smith made five extra-point kicks.
McCoy completed 18-of-25 passes for 277 yards and three TDs.
Burney caught eight passes for 154 yards. Gray had seven catches for 106 yards. Tristan Sedberry had four for 54.
Decaldecal rushed for 167 yards on 19 carries.
Pugh led the defense with 16 total tackles. Linebacker Cam Davis had 12 tackles. Loche had 11. Linebackers Easton Hill and safety Gabe Soileau had nine and eight, respectively.