Saturday, August 27th, 2022
Keep on running
Nichols runs wild, Parkway survives rough start for first win
By Jeff Custer
Photo by Nick Wenning/The Daily Standard
Parkway's Eddie Nichols runs through the open field during Friday's home game with North Central. Nichols rushed for 230 yards to lead the Panthers to their first victory of the season in a 49-12 decision over the Eagles.
ROCKFORD - Coming off a 51-14 loss to Crestview, Parkway came home for its first home game of the season to take on North Central.
While the Panthers struggled to find their footing early, in the end they ran away with the game, winning 49-12 at Panther Stadium.
It was a rocky start for the Panthers. After being called for a block-in-the-back on the opening kickoff that took them out of good field position, they marched down the field on 13 plays and controlled the ball for nearly seven minutes but were stopped with a turnover on downs.
The Eagles turned that to their advantage quickly, striking for 64-yards on the second play of the drive which took them deep into Panther territory. But Parkway's defense toughened up following the long play and forced the Eagles into a turnover on downs just four plays later.
The struggle continued for the Panthers' offense on its second drive of the game with a fumble on the first play from scrimmage, deep in their own territory, but again, the defense was up to the challenge. North Central took the ball to the Panther 2-yard line, and, on fourth down, ran the ball up the middle of the defense and was stuffed for only one yard.
From there, the career night began for senior Eddie Nichols. On the first play, he set the Parkway school record with a 99-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers an early 7-0 lead.
Photo by Nick Wenning/The Daily Standard
Parkway's Apollo Thomas (74) grabs the jersey of North Central's Joe Burt to keep him from running.
Following a trifecta of three-and-outs, junior quarterback Fletcher Smith and the Parkway offense began their aerial assault against the North Central defense. The Panthers concluded a four-play drive with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Smith to junior Caiden Berry to give them a 14-0 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the first half.
The Eagles only needed three plays to answer, as senior Quin Burt broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-6. However, the Panthers were not content to take only a one-score lead into halftime with just under two minutes remaining.
On a six-play drive, taking just over a minute, Smith connected with Nichols for 21 yards and junior Landen May for 28 yards, then capped off the drive with a 15-yard connection with Logan Green for a touchdown.
After turning the Eagles away on their first drive of the second half, Parkway scored another touchdown when Smith found May on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Again the Eagles answered, returning the kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, making the score 28-12, but it was all Panthers from there. Nichols added two more touchdowns and Smith found Green for another score.
Photo by Nick Wenning/The Daily Standard
Parkway quarterback Fletcher Smith (8) hands off to running back Logan Green in a game against North Central at Panther Stadium on Friday.
"We're a young team and it's always good to see them play up to their potential," Henkle said. "We sustained a good game and put plays together. We haven't been able to do that, last year or last week. So, it's always positive to see that happen."
Nichols finished with 230 yards rushing - 27 yards short of Greg Roebeck's 1977 record of 257 yards. Smith finished 15-of-18 for 261 yards and four touchdowns. Green had six catches for 80 yards.
Parkway is back home next Friday as New Bremen makes the trip from Auglaize County.
Correction:
In Saturday's sports section, Parkway running back Eddie Nichols was listed as having rushed for 230 yards in the Panthers' win over North Central.
Nichols was actually credited for 264 yards, which breaks the 1977 record of 257 set by Greg Roebuck.
Nichols officially had 264 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns.
The error was made in editing.
