By JERRY BYRD JR., Journal Sports
There are your normal high school football games, and then there are nights when the game means something more. Friday night’s game at Preston Crownover Stadium between host Parkway and Bossier was more than just a game.
Not to bury the lead, the Panthers came away with a 49-0 shutout victory over the outmanned Bearkats.
Usually, head coaches shake hands at the end of a game.
Friday night, there was an embrace between Parkway’s Coy Brotherton and Bossier’s DeAumante Johnson. While that was special, it wasn’t as special as what took place before the game.
Johnson, who played quarterback for Brotherton at Plain Dealing, presented Brotherton with a plaque at midfield. On the plaque was a picture from Johnson’s senior night at Plain Dealing, and senior night at Grambling State University, when Brotherton showed up to honor Johnson’s collegiate career.
“He’s meant a lot to me, and I know I’ve meant a lot to him,” Brotherton said. “I’m so proud of what he has done. DeAumante surprised me with that plaque before the game, and it took me a little while to gather my emotions.”
There was a game to be played, and Parkway’s homecoming court to be honored. More memories to be made.
Senior girls’ basketball star Mikaylah Williams was honored as homecoming queen, the latest in a lengthy list of accolades for the highly-accomplished scholar-athlete.
Once the game started, it was the Jaylan White Show. The Panthers’ 5-9, 180-pound senior running back rushed for 148 yards on 12 carries in the first half, including touchdown runs of 5, 39, and 42 yards.
“We had a great week of practice, and we were disciplined,” White said. “We came out and played hard. District starts next week. We’re ready to prepare for the next week.”
Parkway improved to 3-0 while Bossier fell to 0-3.
White and his offensive line weren’t the only ones on the offensive side who had a good night.
Parkway quarterback Ashton Martin added a pair of the touchdown passes to pour on the Panther rout. Martin found Le’Broderick Mayweather on a middle screen and Mayweather did the rest – going 51 yards to open the scoring.
The Martin-to-Mayweather connection came with 8:52 to go in the first quarter.
After throwing an interception on Parkway’s next possession, Martin got that bad taste out of his mouth by completing a 47-yard bomb to Trenton Lape, who got behind Bossier defenders on his skinny post route.
The final score in the first half was a pick six by Parkway linebacker Barrett Newman, who returned the interception 27 yards for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 42-0 lead with 4:09 remaining in the first half.
Newman’s score was the icing on the cake for a defense which only gave up one unforced first down all night.
In the second half, White wasn’t calling for the ball between the third and fourth quarter. He was calling to his mother in the stands asking for some Skittles.
With White on the sideline, it allowed Parkway’s Demond Blackwell to shine. He did just that with a 41-yard touchdown run with 4:30 left in the game to close out the scoring.
Parkway will be between The Pines in Haughton next Friday night when Brotherton will face his brother, Haughton’s Jason Brotherton.
It will be the second time the brothers have faced off this season. Parkway beat Haughton 13-0 in the Bossier Lions Club Jamboree.
Bossier also opens district play as they will pay a visit to Evangel.
Parkway 49, Bossier 0
Bossier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – 0
Parkway | 21 | 21 | 0 | 7 | – 49
Pw – L. Mayweather 51 pass from Ashton Martin (Aeron Burrell kick)
Pw – Trenton Lape 47 pass from Martin (Burrell kick)
Pw – Jaylan White 5 run (Burrell kick)
Pw – White 39 run (Burrell kick)
Pw – White 42 run (Burrell kick)
Pw – Barrett Newman 28 interception return (Burrell kick)
Pw – Demond Blackwell 41 run (Burrell kick)
Contact Jerry at sbjjerry@gmail.com
