Parkland Wins One for the Ages Against Burges in OT

In one of the most memorable high school football games in quite some time, Parkland defeated Burges 41-40 in a wild overtime classic in our Sarah Farms game of the week on Friday night.  Some games are so special that you actually have to be in attendance to believe how they conclude, as was the case at Matador Stadium.

With 4:31 left in the game, Burges kicker Jesus Torres booted a 37-yard field goal to pull the Ponies within a 3-point deficit at 27-24.  Then, with 3:44 left, Parkland QB Gabe Herrera threw a ball that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Burges' OLB Alec Marenco who took it to the house on a 17-yard pick-six giving the mustangs a 31-27 lead.  As time almost expired, the Matadors drove all the way down the field and backup quarterback Jacariaous Lewis, who came in for one play found wide receiver Dywane Ford Jr. for a spectacular 28-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left resulting in Parkland taking a 34-31 lead.

Game over right, wrong, Burges starts its ensuing drive to just inside Parkland territory, thanks in part to an unsportsmanlike penalty on Parkland as players ran onto the field to celebrate the go ahead touchdown, and a quick out-of-bound pass to Marenco set up a game-tying 54-yard FG as time expired.  The kick was blocked and it appeared that the game was truly over.  To quote my pal Adrian Broaddus, "NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND!"

Parkland was on the field celebrating a sure win before the play was blown dead and the refs gave the Matadors a 15-yard sideline warning penalty, enabling the Mustangs to kick the field goal again, this time from 39-yards, and of course it went in, and to overtime we went!

In OT Burges scored a touchdown, but the extra point attempt was blocked, Parkland scored a TD as well, but made their PAT, and the rest as they say is history as the Matadors went on to win the game 41-40.  One thing is for certain, anyone who was fortunate enough to be at the wild game witnessed an instant classic, and this one was surly a game for the books, that could be talked about for years to come.  Where were you when Parkland beat Burges in overtime in one of the more surreal finishes imaginable to a high school football game?  This is why we love high school football, and to think, it was only week 1.