MCCOMB – For the second straight season, PCS will face an undefeated Parklane Academy team. There is, however, a huge difference from last season to this season, though.
It was only the third game of the season when these teams met in 2016, so Parklane was only 2-0 and it finished the season 5-6 overall. In 2017, the Pioneers are 6-0 and they’re coming off their biggest win of the season – a 47-28 defeat of Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
Hawkins has seen these Parklane players grow up year after year, and he said this year’s team is one the Pioneers have been building on for quite a while.
“This conference is good from top to bottom, so every week we play a really outstanding team,” PCS coach Joey Hawkins said. “There’s no doubt this is the best Parklane team since ‘95, and they’re 6-0 for a reason.”
In that win over MRA, Hawkins said Parklane rushed for nearly 500 yards. The rushing attack averages more than 335 yards per game, and senior Jay Smith and Trent Coleman lead the way.
Hawkins compared the Parklane offense to a snowplow when Smith carries the ball. He’ll receive a power pitch and follows his blocks until he finds a crack. Coleman, on the other hand, is a little more elusive, according to Hawkins. He’ll run counters and outside sweeps for the Pioneers.
“They get in one formation and run it straight downhill,” Hawkins said. “They had 500 yards rushing the other night. They get into two-tight, double wing and power the ball. They have a massive front that averages probably 285, and they’re a senior-laden team.”
The PCS defense will have a tough task ahead of them this week because Parklane has the weight advantage in all of the necessary areas.
“The thing you have to do is create turnovers and we have to score every time we get close,” Hawkins said. “We’re going to have to make some big explosive plays, and when we get inside the red zone, we’re going to have to score touchdowns if we’re going to have a chance.”
The PCS offense got back to its old ways last week against Oak Forest, rushing for 360 yards on 50 carries. Both senior Sheldon James and junior Alden Rhian recorded 100-yard games, as James rushed for 142 yards and two scores on 20 attempts and Rhian totaling 139 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
The bond between Hawkins and junior quarterback Brandon Thornton has become the biggest key to the offense, Hawkins said. He knew it would take a while before his offense got clicking, and even though the Bobcats had successful games in the beginning of the season, the rhythm is getting better.
“You know, we’re getting better on offense, and our weapons are starting to come on,” he said. “I knew it was going to take awhile, but we’re starting to get a good rhythm. Brandon and I, I knew it was going to take awhile before we could work together. He’s new and I tried so much stuff that it took awhile, but now we’re starting to mess pretty good. He’s one of the gutsiest quarterbacks I’ve ever had.”
Thornton and the PCS offense will have to go against a Parklane defense that allows just 16 points per game and have shutout two opponents so far this season.
