Parrott too much for Southampton Academy in 48-6 win
By Scott Cole / Kinston Free Press Correspondent
KINSTON — Arendell Parrott Academy is on a roll at 7-0 and looks geared toward winning a third straight state title.
The Southampton Academy Raiders from Courtland, VA. were no match for the Patriots on Friday night as Parrott earned a 48-6 win.
Led by a three-touchdown, 221-yard receiving performance by AJ Banker, the Patriots won their homecoming game.
“We just got beat by a better team,” Raiders coach Dale Marks said. “We got kicked around. We aren’t as deep as they are. They got great passes that we couldn’t defend against. We didn’t play good football. We have to put it behind us for next week or our season is over.”
It didn’t take long for the Patriots to get started. On the second play of the game, quarterback Connor Bright connected with Banker for a 43-yard reception for a touchdown. On APA’s next possession, Bright found Holden Killinger on a 9-yard pass to the right corner of the end zone to put the Pats up 16-0.
“This is a very talented team. This is probably the most talented team I’ve had since I’ve been coaching here,” APA coach Matt Beamon said. “They are not satisfied with winning. They want to beat a team. They are very motivated to play their best and you can see that on the field.”
After another drive by the Raiders came to nothing, the Patriots drove down the field and would score in the opening seconds of the second quarter on an 11 yard quarterback keeper by Bright. Two minutes later, Bright found Banker again for a 60 yard bomb as he motored into the end zone unopposed.
Banker would score his third touchdown on Parrott’s next possession with a 13 yard reception two players after he took one for 54 yards to move the chains down the field.
“This was homecoming week, so we came out with a lot of emotion. We wanted to put on a good show for the crowd. We came out strong in the first half and did what we do best,” Banker said. “We just have to keep our heads in it and we are going to be fine.”
The Patriots were not just about offense. Both Killinger and Banker almost had interceptions near halftime, with both of them losing control of the ball as they each dove to grab the pass. Defensively, they held the Raiders to 105 yards of offense (as compared to the 316 yards APA had) with each drive ending in a punt or turnover on downs.
“We didn’t let any distractions from this week get to us,” Bright said. “We looked good on offense and our defense attacked the other team well. We made some adjustments as we needed to. Overall, it was a strong game for us. Bright finished the night going 12 for 14 for 189 yards passing.
Hunter Blythe intercepted a pass from the Raiders to open up the second half after Southampton Academy had been slowly advancing up the field. Blythe’s interception set up a 13 yard run by Trey McLawhorn to put the Patriots up 42-0 with a running clock initiated. McLawhorn led the team with 35 yards on five carried. Bright added 34 on eight carries.
Southampton finally got on the board with three minutes left to go in the third quarter. Ian Mizelle went up the middle, hooked right, and took a pass from quarterback Wyatt Jernigan. Mizelle stormed down the field for a 56-yard touchdown.
Dallas Hill answered right back for the Patriots. The 5’5”, 130 lb freshman took a handoff on a right end sweep and reached over the pylon for a 15 yard touchdown; his first as a member of the varsity team.
“We ran a fake pitch to left side and I cut to the right,” Hill said. “It’s an awesome feeling to score my first varsity touchdown in a game like this. It means a lot for us to be undefeated.”
Reynolds Barringer would prevent a touchdown in the last minute of the game by deflecting a pass out of the hands of a Raiders receiver.
“Next week, we are playing for playoff seeding against Rocky Mount Academy, who is also undefeated,” Beamon. “Our defense did a great job flying to the ball. The offense attacked well and we had too many athletes for them to counter. But we have to focus on next week now.”
By Scott Cole / Kinston Free Press Correspondent
KINSTON — Arendell Parrott Academy is on a roll at 7-0 and looks geared toward winning a third straight state title.
The Southampton Academy Raiders from Courtland, VA. were no match for the Patriots on Friday night as Parrott earned a 48-6 win.
Led by a three-touchdown, 221-yard receiving performance by AJ Banker, the Patriots won their homecoming game.
“We just got beat by a better team,” Raiders coach Dale Marks said. “We got kicked around. We aren’t as deep as they are. They got great passes that we couldn’t defend against. We didn’t play good football. We have to put it behind us for next week or our season is over.”
It didn’t take long for the Patriots to get started. On the second play of the game, quarterback Connor Bright connected with Banker for a 43-yard reception for a touchdown. On APA’s next possession, Bright found Holden Killinger on a 9-yard pass to the right corner of the end zone to put the Pats up 16-0.
“This is a very talented team. This is probably the most talented team I’ve had since I’ve been coaching here,” APA coach Matt Beamon said. “They are not satisfied with winning. They want to beat a team. They are very motivated to play their best and you can see that on the field.”
After another drive by the Raiders came to nothing, the Patriots drove down the field and would score in the opening seconds of the second quarter on an 11 yard quarterback keeper by Bright. Two minutes later, Bright found Banker again for a 60 yard bomb as he motored into the end zone unopposed.
Banker would score his third touchdown on Parrott’s next possession with a 13 yard reception two players after he took one for 54 yards to move the chains down the field.
“This was homecoming week, so we came out with a lot of emotion. We wanted to put on a good show for the crowd. We came out strong in the first half and did what we do best,” Banker said. “We just have to keep our heads in it and we are going to be fine.”
The Patriots were not just about offense. Both Killinger and Banker almost had interceptions near halftime, with both of them losing control of the ball as they each dove to grab the pass. Defensively, they held the Raiders to 105 yards of offense (as compared to the 316 yards APA had) with each drive ending in a punt or turnover on downs.
“We didn’t let any distractions from this week get to us,” Bright said. “We looked good on offense and our defense attacked the other team well. We made some adjustments as we needed to. Overall, it was a strong game for us. Bright finished the night going 12 for 14 for 189 yards passing.
Hunter Blythe intercepted a pass from the Raiders to open up the second half after Southampton Academy had been slowly advancing up the field. Blythe’s interception set up a 13 yard run by Trey McLawhorn to put the Patriots up 42-0 with a running clock initiated. McLawhorn led the team with 35 yards on five carried. Bright added 34 on eight carries.
Southampton finally got on the board with three minutes left to go in the third quarter. Ian Mizelle went up the middle, hooked right, and took a pass from quarterback Wyatt Jernigan. Mizelle stormed down the field for a 56-yard touchdown.
Dallas Hill answered right back for the Patriots. The 5’5”, 130 lb freshman took a handoff on a right end sweep and reached over the pylon for a 15 yard touchdown; his first as a member of the varsity team.
“We ran a fake pitch to left side and I cut to the right,” Hill said. “It’s an awesome feeling to score my first varsity touchdown in a game like this. It means a lot for us to be undefeated.”
Reynolds Barringer would prevent a touchdown in the last minute of the game by deflecting a pass out of the hands of a Raiders receiver.
“Next week, we are playing for playoff seeding against Rocky Mount Academy, who is also undefeated,” Beamon. “Our defense did a great job flying to the ball. The offense attacked well and we had too many athletes for them to counter. But we have to focus on next week now.”
