By Natalie Dillon
ndillon@themonroetimes.com
ORFORDVILLE — After scoring 55 points in Week 2, Parkview-Albany was unable to find the end zone in its conference-opening loss to Palmyra-Eagle, 42-0.
As the score indicated, it was all Palmyra-Eagle. On the Panthers’ first possession, quarterback Wilson Jones broke outside on third-and-2, received key blocks and scampered 50 yards to the end zone. With an extra point from Dylan Walsh, PE took a 7-0 lead.
After two empty PA possessions that lasted all of 10 plays, PE took advantage of optimal field position at the Vikings’ 47-yard line. With minimal gains each play, the Panthers methodically marched down the field. Jones’ first touchdown pass to Walsh was called back for holding, but the two connected on the very next play from 12 yards out for a 14-0 lead.
With four incomplete passes in its first two possessions, PA switched to more of a run game to find success. After a 10-yard sack by Justin Thomas Jr., Viking quarterback Aiden Crane brought the ball back to the original line of scrimmage. He then handed the ball off to Caleb Smith, who gained 45 yards on four plays.
Another tackle for loss by Thomas Jr., followed by an incomplete pass, set PA up for a fourth-and-14 at the PE 40-yard line. Although the Panthers jumped offsides to give the Vikings an extra five yards, PA turned the ball over on downs with an incomplete pass intended for Louis Nath.
During the Panthers’ next drive, Jones ran for three first downs, setting his team up at the PA 11-yard line. He picked up seven more yards before handing off to Brett Johnson for another score.
Hoping to build momentum from its last drive, PA once again handed the ball to Smith. Before he could get going, though, the Vikings fumbled the ball near midfield and the Panthers’ John Burrill recovered.
It took PE seven plays to score on a pass to Walsh, who missed the subsequent extra point, for a 27-point lead.
Back-to-back interceptions within a minute closed out the half.
Entering a fresh half, PA went back to what worked in the first — handing the ball off to Smith. The senior running back carried the ball 8 of 12 plays — including on crucial third- and fourth-down plays — to set his team up inside the 10.
But just as the Vikings were ready to score, Alex Harbison intercepted Crane’s pass in the end zone and ran it back 100 yards for a pick 6. With a two-point run from Jones, PE took a 35-0 lead and enforced a running clock just seven minutes into the third quarter.
The Panthers tacked on another score less than a minute into the fourth frame, making for a 42-0 final.
Palmyra-Eagle 42,
Parkview-Albany 0
(Friday, Sept. 6 at Orfordville)
Palmyra-Eagle ……. 14 13 8 7 – 42
Parkview-Albany…… 0 0 0 0 – 0
First Quarter
PE: Wilson Jones 50-yd rush (Dylan Walsh PAT good), 7-0, 9:49
PE: Walsh 14-yd pass from Jones (Walsh PAT good), 14-0, 1:54
Second Quarter
PE: Brett Johnson 4-yd rush (Walsh PAT good), 21-0, 5:28
PE: Walsh 5-yd pass from Jones (Walsh PAT failed)
Third Quarter
PE: Alex Harbisch 100-yd interception (2-pt rush Jones), 35-0, 5:26
Fourth Quarter
PE: Jones 7-yd rush (Walsh PAT good), 42-0, 11:03
Team Statistics
Rushing – PE: 30-253 (3 TD); PA: 24-96. Passing (comp-att-INT, yds, TD) – PE: 4-9-1, 38-2.
Individual Leaders
Rushing – PE: Wilson Jones 20-180 (2 TD), Brett Johnson 4-23 (1 TD); PA: Caleb Smith 15-107. Passing – PE: Wilson Jones 4-9-1, 38-2; PA: Aiden Crane 2-11-3, 45-0. Receiving – PE: Dylan Walsh 2-35 (2 TD); PA: Kaden Zurfluh 1-37, Louis Nath 1-8.
