Turnovers haunt Trojans in loss to Panthers
MAGNOLIA - Parkers Chapel fought the good fight but three turnovers proved too much to overcome Monday as the Trojans fell to Fouke 26-21 in the Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Kickoff Classic, held on the campus of Southern Arkansas University.
“The kids fought hard. We had multiple times throughout the game where we got down two scores and could’ve folded. But, they kept going. They kept fighting and they kept it close,” said Parkers Chapel coach Jacob Midyett. “Obviously, way too many mistakes. We definitely feel like we kind of beat ourselves. You can’t turn the ball over three times, period. Turning it over three times in plus territory, that’s a killer.
Obviously, we’ve got to cut out the mistakes.”
Parkers Chapel accumulated 297 yards of total offense. Caleb Jacobs threw for 157 on 13-of-30 passing. But, had three interceptions, too. The passing numbers were hampered by at least six dropped balls.
“Absolutely, it’s definitely a concern. We’re hoping to do some things in the passing game. We feel like that’s our best suit with the athletes we have. And, we’ve got to make catches,” said Midyett. “We work on it every day. We hope that it was just kind of first-game jitters. We’re going to get that fixed in a short time.”
Jacobs ran for 73 yards on 11 attempts with the Trojans finishing with 140 yards on the ground.
Ryan Simpson rushed for 56 yards and had four receptions for 57 yards. Amari Bell had four receptions for 49 yards with two touchdowns. Trace Shoup had four receptions for 44 yards.
The game, which took three hours to complete, featured a multitude of penalties on both teams, heat-related injuries and other injury stoppages, not to mention several referee discussions. In other words, a typical first game. For the Trojans, it was their first time facing a team in a different color uniform.
“That’s what the scrimmage was for. We didn’t get our scrimmage. It got rained out. So, those are mistakes you’ve got to expect,” said Midyett. “We’ve got a short week this week. We’re hoping to clean some things up and get back on the good side on Friday.”
The Trojans actually drew the game’s first break when Klayton Ballance tackled the Fouke punter, giving PC the ball at the opponent’s 45-yard line. Jacobs hit Bell for seven to bring up a third-and-3. But, the next pass bounced off a receiver’s hands and was intercepted by the Panthers’ Aric Avila.
Fouke went on to march 66 yards in six plays, including a 30-yard pass from Hunter Lansdell to Adam Self. Chance Crabtree ran for 24 before Kade Foster scored on a 4-yard run. Tristan Thrasher’s PAT gave the
Panthers a 7-0 lead with 4:00 left in the first.
Midyett said the interception was a big momentum changer early in the game.
“That was huge,” he said. “That was our second drive. All of a sudden, we’re moving the ball a little bit, got down in plus territory. It was a big play, had a lot of room to run. Just went through his hand, got a little bit of a bad bounce.
“Then they went down and scored. It was a huge play. Honestly, it was one of those times we could’ve folded up. But, I’m proud of the way they continued to fight.”
Fouke followed that with a 12-play drive that ended on Foster’s 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down. Thrasher’s kick, with 8:14 left in the half, pushed the lead to 14-0.
The Trojans answered with a 10-play drive, pushing the ball to the Fouke 3-yard line.
But, on third-and-2, Jacobs was intercepted by Avila, ending the threat.
This time, however, PC’s defense stepped up with Hunter Palculict making a diving interception at the 26.
On the ensuing play, Jacobs lofted a perfect 26-yard strike to Bell, who hauled it in for the touchdown. Preston Stivender’s kick cut the lead to 14-7 with 3:30 left in the half.
PC opened the second half with Jacobs recovering an onsides kick. But, the drive stalled on an incomplete pass on fourth-and-2 at the Fouke 37.
The Panthers then marched 63 yards on just four plays, including Lansdell’s 40-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Parker.
The PAT missed, leaving the margin at 20-7 with 7:24 left in the third.
The Trojans answered with a 62-yard drive, 52 coming through the air on 4-of-4 passing by Jacobs. Shoup caught one for nine before Simpson had a 13-yard reception.
Shoup’s 18-yard grab set up Bell, who dragged two defenders into the end zone to complete an 11-yard TD reception. Stivender hit the PAT, cutting the deficit to 20-14 with 5:43 left in the third.
After a defensive stop, the Trojans took the ball and went on a go-ahead march.
On fourth-and-1 from the 46, Fouke’s Gabe Parker stepped in front of a pass and took the interception 64 yards for the dagger touchdown.
The kick failed but the margin was 26-14 with 10:43 left in the final quarter.
To their credit, the Trojans didn’t quit. On a fourth-and-4 play, Jacobs hit Simpson for a 37-yard touchdown. Simpson broke three tackles on his way into the end zone.
Stivender added the kick to cut the margin to 26-21 with 5:51 remaining.
But, Parkers Chapel never got the ball back as the Panthers picked up four first downs to chew up the clock.
Kanon Garrett ran for six to convert a thirdand-2 to seal the win.
“I’m very proud of the way our kids fought. But, hat’s off to them,” Midyett said of the Panthers.
“Coaching change a week before your first game. That staff did an awesome job of having their kids focused and ready to play. Yeah, we felt like we beat ourselves but they didn’t have too many bad plays and executed the plays when they should’ve.”
For the Trojans, depth could’ve played a factor with several starters never leaving the field, even on special teams. Midyett singled out the efforts of one of his linemen, who withstood the heat and had an effective game.
“Braden Bohannon played extremely well,” the coach said of his junior center and defensive tackle.
“He didn’t come off the field unless we yanked him off. He only had one bad snap. He was on the majority of our defensive plays as well. I’m proud of him.
“Especially for a bigger guy, being in the shape that he was, I was very impressed with him.”