Deion Hankins Rewrites History with Win Over Hanks

In what could only be described as a dreary, chilly evening with a constant downpour for more than two and a half hours, Parkland running back Deion Hankins put on a show for the ages by becoming the first El Paso high school football player to eclipse more than 6,000 career rushing yards.  He did so in one of the most impressive ways imaginable too by leading his squad to a 56-28 victory over the Hanks Knights.

The game, which was a turnover frenzy affair, where both teams combined for six total giveaways, began with an inauspicious start for Hanks as they coughed up the ball on their first two possessions with an interception and fumble, and Parkland took full advantage by jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, both scores occurring within 9 seconds of one another.  The Knights finally settled down and drove the length of the field as running back Hasim Pina-Peterson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to cut into Parkland's lead at 14-7 with 7:53 left in the first quarter.

Parkland would go on to score twice more before halftime and had a 28-14 edge at the intermission.  That was as close as the Knights would get to the Matadors though as it was the Deion Hankins show in the second half.  Coming into this game, Hankins needed 170 yards to become just the 104th running back in the state of Texas to accumulate more than 6,000 career rushing yards, and he wasn't going to be denied on this evening at home.  He would go on to score 4 of his 6 touchdowns in the second half, and finished with an astounding 292 yards on 33 carries, 357 all-purpose yards as Hankins also caught a 65 yard swing pass for a TD as well.

Without question, it was one of the most memorable performances by a high school football player in the history of the sport not only in the Sun City, but in the great state of Texas as well.  UTEP has to be grinning from ear to ear that this kid committed to play for them next season.  With the win Parkland improves to 5-0-1, 1-0 in District 1-5A Division II, and will travel to undefeated Ysleta in our YMCA game of the week next Friday.  Hanks's record is now 3-3, 0-1 in District 1-5A, Division II and will travel to Horizon next Friday.