The Rockets put up a fight against Parkview
Photo by Ethan Renard
Bleachers were filled and fences were lined with fans from Catholic High and Parkview for the cross-town benefit matchup. The Rockets faced the consensus number-one team in the state on a hot August Tuesday evening. Although the Rockets fell short, the team gained experience that will prepare them for fall football.
Parkview jumped on the Rockets early, scoring 20 unanswered points in the first quarter. Despite initial defensive struggles, the Rockets held Parkview to just one touchdown in the second quarter. The Rockets capped off the first half with a positive drive and a touchdown pass from Jackson England to senior wide receiver Paul Plafcan.
The second half was a chance for the backups to play and the coaches to try new fourth-down packages. The Rockets succeeded on one of their fourth-down attempts, drawing a defensive pass interference. Sophomore quarterback Hunter Markham strung together an impressive yet scoreless drive. Senior running back Chebem Ekeanyanwu showed off his downhill speed on a breakout run for a first down. Although Catholic did not score in the second half, they seized the opportunity to discover what would work in close-game situations.
Catholic High Head Coach Mr. Richard Cochran saw this game as a chance to gain valuable experience. “The greatest thing you can do when you play a team with state champion energy and expectations is knowing this is how fast or tough we have to play,” said Mr. Cochran.
Mr. Cochran praised the offensive chemistry between England and Plafcan. “Those two have been playing together since seventh grade, so they are in great partnership. They know each other intuitively, and I think we will see a lot more of those connections throughout the season.”
The football team learned a lot about their potential to do historic things this season. They will now return to the playbook and the film room to find more ways to improve before their next matchup at Texarkana on Friday, August 30th.
