Parkdale Football Coach Rich Holzer: "Our Guys Think They’re Better Than They Are Right Now.”

Coming off their 47-6 pounding of High Point last week, the Parkdale Panthers knew the real test would be this weekend against the defending regional champion Henry Wise Pumas. While they acknowledged a week ago that this Saturday's matchup would be tough, few predicted the beating that Parkdale would eventually take.

Not scoring until the final series of the fourth quarter, the Panthers (1-1) limped their way to a 36-6 loss at the hands of Wise (1-1).

The game was set to be an exposition of pass versus rush, with Parkdale relying heavily on the arm of quarterback Bejoe Mundit, while Wise has a slew of running backs who all get multiple touches per game. In the end it did turn out that way, as Wise quarterback Deandre Smith handed the ball off to six different rushers, and Mundit connected with eight separate receivers.

By the game's end however, it was Wise's offense that proved far superior.

Puma Clyde Partlow, a senior running back, scored the game's first touchdown on a four-yard run with just seconds remaining in the first quarter. Junior running back Uriah Bethea scored the team's next two touchdowns, both 27-yard runs capped by two-point conversions.

Bethea finished the game with 124 rushing yards on 15 carries. He also caught one pass for an additional nine yards.

Wise's next score, an interception returned for a touchdown by senior linebacker Rayshaud Shields, came just 36 seconds into the third quarter.

"That was a screen play to the left and [Mundit] threw it right," explained Parkdale Coach Rich Holzer. "There was no one there. That's why the interception happened. Everyone on our offense ran screen left and he threw screen right. If they didn't intercept that and run it back for a touchdown I would have been shocked."

Mundit threw a second interception on Parkdale's next drive just minutes later. He finished the game having completed 23 of 37 passes for 179 yards. His one touchdown pass was a five-yard completion to senior wide receiver Kenny Miles.

According to Holzer, Parkdale's poor execution on Saturday was a reflection of their attitude during practice over the last several days.

"We were sleep walking all week at practice," he said after the game. "They had a horrible week at practice and it showed. We didn't execute on offense. Our offensive practice on Tuesday was one of the worse practices all year."

The result of the lazy week was apparent all over the field, Holzer said.

"Our receivers weren't running. Our line protection was breaking down all the time. We threw three jump balls to who is supposed to be our number one receiver, and he came down with none of them. They hit him in the hands every time," he said.

If there's one big lesson to be learned from Saturday's slaughter, Holzer said it loud and clear.

"We need a wake-up call," he said. "We need to play full speed all the time. Our guys think they're better than they are right now."

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