Panthers fall to Jefferson

ROCKFORD - It was a physical game in every sense of the word, and while Parkway kept fighting with Jefferson, it was the visiting Wildcats who took home the victory 13-6 at Panthers Stadium in Rockford.

The game began as one might expect between two physical teams. While Jefferson began with the football, a pair of negative plays quickly gave the ball to the Panthers. Parkway's first drive went just one yard, and the visitors had it again.

Jefferson's second drive proved better as running back Dean Trentman used runs of 23, four, and nine yards to help push the Wildcats into Parkway territory. Mason Ackley gave Parkway the momentum later in the drive when he sacked quarterback Heath Schnipke for a loss of five. Just two plays later Schnipke took a shot to the endzone, but all he found was the black jersey of safety Isaac Beveridge who easily came down with the pick.

The Panthers did not pay Beveridge back with a score on offense, but Ackley gave his team the ball back just three plays later on a strip sack.

Parkway took over on the 41-yard line, and Perry Schwieterman delivered his best throw of the half the next play. It was a rocket down the sideline into the hands of Beveridge for the long touchdown, and the Panthers led 6-0 after a missed PAT just two minutes into the second quarter.

Jefferson responded four minutes later as Trentman delivered the tying blow. A pass interference call moved the visitors into the redzone, and the senior back weaved his way through traffic for the 26-yard score. Parkway was able to block the PAT, and it remained a 6-6 game with 6:50 on the clock.

The final highlight of the first half came on its final play. With the Wildcats in possession on Parkway's 15 yard-line and just two seconds left, Kellen Brotherwood came out for a field goal. A high snap could not be gathered, and while the Wildcats fell on the loose pigskin, Parkway celebrated into the locker room.

A slow-paced and slower scoring third quarter saw the teams trade punts and turnovers, but it stayed a 6-6 game into the final frame.

Jefferson, with the ball and 7:08 left in the game, began to pounce on the Panthers. A big run from Schnipke and a horse collar call put the ball on the 11-yard line, and two runs from Trentman made it a third and four from the five. The Wildcats then committed a cardinal sin and committed two penalties of their own, and the ball was all the way back on the 19.

Schnipke kept the running game going and scrambled for a first down after some wizardry, and punched it in the next play from one yard out to put the visitors up 13-6 with 3:25 left.

While Parkway used a pair of Schwieterman scrambles to move into Jefferson territory, his final few passes fell incomplete. Parkway was heartbroken, while Jefferson celebrated.

Parkway opens Midwest Athletic Conference play this Friday at home with Anna.