to Parklane

By

CHUCK CORDER

NATCHEZ &045; A survey through the Adams County Christian School camp finds soldiers wounded, ill and in desperate need of a break after 11 straight weeks of abusing their youthful bodies.

The fatigued Rebels &045; critical injuries sidelining several elite players with others fighting a circulating stomach bug &045; down to few numbers for a Class AAA school, marched forward with unsatisfactory results Friday.

Parklane used a mixture of speed and power in the backfield to register three touchdowns, while its defense pitched a shutout and its special teams accounted for another score in a smooth 28-0 victory.

&uot;Not only do we have injuries, but we’ve got a lot kids that are sick out there,&uot; said ACCS head coach Keith Walters, whose team is currently mired in a five-game losing streak. &uot;I know we got tired there in the second half. But still I thought we played with a lot of courage to stay out there.&uot;

Trailing just 7-0 in a speedy first half, the Rebels (4-6, 2-4 MPSA 2-AAA) looked to be born again, as they plotted a methodical drive in an attempt to get on the scoreboard.

ACCS, with sophomore Timmy Foster under center, opened up shop from its own 26-yard line with 10:17 blinking on the clock.

Seventeen plays, 68 yards and nearly 7 1/2 minutes later, using mostly variations of screen and quick-slant routes, the Rebels were knocking on heaven’s door, with first and goal from the Parklane 6.

&uot;In that first quarter, when they started to go to the pass, we were playing too loose,&uot; Pioneers head coach Charlie Newlon said. &uot;We respected (Dustin Case and Ray Simpson’s) speed. We were laying off of them way too much.&uot;

However, the drive stalled there at the 6. Three incomplete passes led to a 23-yard field goal attempt off the foot of Foster.

Parklane linebacker Derek McKenzie blew through the right side of the line and devoured the kick.

With the Pioneers (4-4, 2-2 2-AAA) recovering the fumble at their own 28 any wind ACCS had began to pick up quickly died down.

&uot;I thought that was a big play. Of course, we would’ve liked to have punched it in, but we couldn’t convert on a couple of plays,&uot; Walters said. &uot;Then, we didn’t protect on the field goal. That was hard to go into the half without any points.&uot;

Mississippi Private School Association Class AAA fans remember the name of Parklane shifty sophomore back Jay Shandy.

The 5-7, 150-pound youngster, who normally splits time with senior Wes Paulk, was impressive on 12 carries for 75 yards, including touchdown runs of 6 and 7 yards in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.

&uot;I try and look around as much as I can out there,&uot; Shandy said. &uot;I plan ahead for what my next moves are going to be and then try to break it open.&uot;

Shandy split time with a collection of backs, including junior tight end J.C. Boyd, who was converted into a back due to a Paulk injury earlier this week.

Boyd rushed for 32 yards and the Pioneers first score with 3:21 in the first quarter.

Boyd also raced into paydirt from 10 yards out with 4:20 in the third quarter after a high snap sailed over the head of Foster, who was in to punt for the Rebels, to make it 21-0.

&uot;We had a lot of mistakes here and there. The field goal being block, the fumbles, giving them a short field a lot of the night,&uot; Walters said. &uot;We’re not good enough to do that and bounce back. With everybody out we’ve got to play almost error free.&uot;

ACCS workhorse Luke Ogden was scratched from Friday’s starting lineup due to a pulled right hamstring.

His absence was glaring to all parties involved.

&uot;We didn’t know (Ogden) was out. It would’ve been a different ball game is he had been in there,&uot; Newlon said.