Smackover blanks Parkers Chapel 36-0
SMACKOVER – Smackover routed Parkers Chapel 36-0 in the season opener in a non-conference match-up of Union County schools at Buckaroo Stadium on Friday. This marks the first meeting between the Bucks and Trojans since 2009 and Smackover now has a 3-2 series advantage.
The game did not start well for Bucks' junior Daylon Curley who fumbled the opening kickoff and the Dragons recovered. Curley was able to bounce back quickly after that by intercepting Parkers Chapel's senior quarterback Lancer Clark's fourth-down pass four plays later.
The Bucks then went on a methodical 7-play, 54-yard drive led by junior Jarius Burgie, who had a 23-yard run on a sweep. With great blocking on the left side, Burgie capped it off with a 3-yard off tackle touchdown run on a fourth-andone with 7:07 remaining in the first stanza. Lamon Hicks missed the PAT kick and it was 6-0.
Smackover would also score on its next two possessions after the Bucks' defense continued to contain the Trojans' offensive attack. After Parkers Chapel turned it over on downs at the Dragons' 49-yard line, the Bucks went the distance in 5 plays, culminated by Curley's 19-yard run to paydirt on a sweep as he cruised past the Dragons' secondary. Another missed PAT and the Bucks led 12-0 with 4:14 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Bucks quickly marched 79 yards in 6 plays. Quarterback Tyler Sexton hit junior receiver D'Kylan Hildreth on a 23-yard pass. Then after a holding penalty, Burgie took another sweep pitch and followed his blocking for 38 yards. Curley accelerated up the middle for the next 20 yards, and Burgie finished if off with another pitch around right end for an 8-yard TD run. Burgie caught a conversion pass from Sexton and the Bucks led 20-0 with 8:24 left in the first half.
“We were successful running the ball tonight due to our front”, Smackover coach David Osborn said. “They are still young, but we are getting better as we go. We have big, strong guys who are working hard and Burgie and Curley hit the holes hard tonight, and they also can make something out of nothing.”
The Smackover duo alternated at running back, and Burgie had 18 carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns and Curley finished with 167 yards on 11 totes and two touchdowns. The Bucks overcame 11 penalties for 85 yards as they amassed 462 total yards, 411 on the ground.
Osborn said, “It was a good test for us tonight. We found a lot of things we need to fix, and we need to continue to work on conditioning. The kids played hard throughout and right to the end. Coach Preston did a great job with the defense and I am happy with the improvement.”
Parkers Chapel did have some success moving the ball at times against the Smackover defense, making 9 first downs and 197 yards of total offense, and had two long drives with no points. The Trojans were on the Smackover 2-yard line as time expired.
“We wish we could have played better,” Parkers Chapel coach Elliot Jacobs said. “We told the kids we have to do a better job, as coaches, of simplifying things, so kids can play multiple positions, with our low numbers”.
Junior Payton Willeford was the workhorse for the Trojans, gaining 70 yards on 20 rushing attempts. Clark threw for 74 yards and ran for 46 yards.
Jacobs said, “Parkers Chapel kids will always compete, and play to the final whistle. We have to get better next week. Smackover is a good football team. They have low numbers, but they have a lot of athletes, and can exploit you in
different ways.”
The Bucks tacked on a late third quarter score as Curley got some good blocking and got to the edge and went untouched on a 79-yard touchdown jaunt. This was one play after a 60-yard touchdown run by Burgie was called back due to a personal foul penalty. Burgie picked up the three yards on the conversion for a 28-0 lead.
Smackover closed out the scoring on its last drive, engineered by sophomore quarterback Cole McNeely. McNeely hit Jakessio Welch on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 5:20 remaining, and Curley's conversion run put it at the 36-0 final margin.
Osborn said, “I wish we could keep this rivalry intact every year. I would like to stay in touch with Coach Jacobs and keep this series going. It's always good competition.”
Smackover travels to Junction City next week and Parkers Chapel travels to Lafayette County in non-conference action.