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[Rocketcorner News]

By Tom Galdeen

Friday Night September 27 was Homecoming for the Parkway Panthers. They entered the game at 2-2 and faced the 2-2 Fort Recovery Indians. Soon after Emily Fisher was crowned Homecoming Queen, tradition at Parkway is that she gets a good luck kiss from one of the football players. Brant Barna was the lucky recipient of the kiss and it was just the beginning of a big night for Brant. He caught 4 passes for 177 yards, 2 of which went for touchdowns including a 66 yard score. He also blocked a punt and sacked the Fort QB a couple times, forcing one fumble. Barna led an explosive Panther team to a big 43-14 win over the visiting Indians.

Parkway wasted no time getting on the scoreboard early as they took the opening kick and only needed 4 plays for Austin Dennison to pass to Adam Carr for a 63 yard touchdown. The PAT was no good. Fort Recovery came right back with a long drive that started out with a 21 yard pass from Darien Sheffer to Evan Schoen. Alex Wenning carried the ball over from the one yard line for the score. Jackson Hobbs gave the Indians the lead with his PAT. Fort Recovery 7, Parkway 6.

Parkway struck fast again, using only 4 plays before Dennison hit Matt Heindel for a 54 yard scoring pass. The 2-point attempt after the score failed, but Parkway was back on top 12-7. The teams traded 3 and outs then with Fort Recovery setting up a drive at the Parkway 45 yard line after the exchange of punts. Mitch Stammen broke loose for a 41 yard quarterback keeper down to the 4 yard line. Alex Wenning again taking the hand off and scoring from 3 yards out. Hobbs PAT made it 14-12 Indians.

After a holding penalty backed the Panthers up to their own 6 yard line, their big play offense took over once again. Dennison hit Dakota Hucke for a 13 yard gain. He then took it himself on a 16 yard keeper. Two plays later Dennison hit Barna for the 66 yard touchdown pass. Another missed PAT made the score 18-14 in Parkways favor.

After Fort Recovery stalled on their next possession, Barna got a hand on the punt and Cody Coffman picked it up and advanced it to the Indians 20 yard line. After a 3 yard gain by Ryan On, Dennison handed off to Ryan Lautzenheiser who hit Barna wide open in the end zone for a 17 yard touchdown pass. The missed PAT made it 24-14. Parkway would get one more opportunity before the half. A 55 yard pass to Barna set the Panthers up at the FR 15 yard line. A 4 yard pass to Lautzenheiser took it to the 11, where Dennison hit Kris Gangwer for an 11 yard score.

The teams lined up for the 2nd half kick-off and for the 3rd time in the game, Parkway onside kicked. This time it worked-although it seemed obvious that the ball hit a Panther player before it went the necessary 10 yards, the officials let it stand. Three plays later, Caleb Heindel carried the ball in from the 10. Lautzenheisers made PAT gave the Panthers a 37-14 lead.

Parkway finished the scoring early in the 4th quarter when Dennison took it in from 20 yards out to Give the Panthers the 43-14 win.

The Panthers signal caller, Austin Dennison had an excellent night shredding the Indians defense. He complaeted 11 of 21 passes for 330 yards and 4 TD's on the night. He also led the Panthers with 52 yards on the ground on 7 carries and one TD.. Barna led the recievers with 177 yards on 4 catches, including 2 TD's.

Sheffer completed 20 of 33 passes for 151 yards. Stammen caught 10 passes for 82 yards. Kyle Timmerman was the leading ground gainer with 91 yards on 15 carries.