The Parkview defense, absent for most of the first half, showed up big time in the second half, shutting out powerful Lowndes for the final two quarters and helping the Panthers to a 39-27 win at The Big Orange Jungle.
No. 7 Parkview (2-0) wasted a 26-7 lead and trailed 27-26 at the half. But the Panthers made an adjustment on defense and prevented the No. 5 Vikings (2-1) from scoring on any of their five second-half possessions.
“The second half was tremendous. Great effort on the defense,” Parkview coach Eric Godfree said. “Coach (John) Rolader, our defensive coordinator, made a great adjustment in the second half. Our defense came out and played tremendous in the second half.”
Parkview defensive lineman Bryce Wilson said, “Our coaches made adjustments. We had to prove we’re No. 5 in the state. I think it just shows how good we can play.”
Parkview won the game with two touchdowns in the second half. Quarterback Jordan Williams threw to Malik Washington for a 13-yard go-ahead score with 8:42 left in the game and found Washington again for a 56-yarder with 2:34 to put it away.
“Malik Washington is the best athlete on the field,” Godfree said. “It doesn’t matter who it is. Malik Washington is the best athlete on the field.”
Williams, a junior making his second varsity start, completed 20 of 26 passes for 297 yards and five touchdowns. Washington caught 13 balls for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Cody Brown rushed 20 times for 139 yards and one touchdown.
Lowndes was led by Travis Tisdale, a Kentucky commitment who rushed 25 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 84 yards. Quarterback Andrew Koenemann completed 12 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked four times and intercepted once.
Lowndes led 27-26 at halftime.
Parkview scored on a 15-yard pass from Williams to Elijah James, but the snap was bad and the Panthers led 6-0. That lasted less than two minutes. Lowndes answered and scored when Zach Williams scored on a 4-yard run.
Parkview then scored on its next three possessions to take a 26-7 lead. There was a 15-yard pass from Williams to Washington, a 66-yard run by Brown and a 27-yard pass from Williams to C.J. Daniels.
“First half we’re rolling and then Tisdale, if we don’t let him get big plays, we’ll win. That second quarter he went off,” Godfree said. “He’s a special back.”
Lowndes got back in the game when Tisdale broke through the line and made a couple of shifty moves for a 77-yard touchdown. The Vikings made it 26-21 when Koenemann connected with Ty Simms for a 46-yard score.
Lowndes took the lead on another long run by Tisdale, who made the 63 yards seem easy. A two-point conversion pass failed, leaving the Vikings ahead 27-26.
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