(Osceola) Zayden Parker threw five touchdown passes, and Atlantic held off Clarke 47-33 in the season opener at Osceola on Friday night.
The Trojans rolled up 470 yards of total offense, 192 passing, and 278 rushing. Zayden Parker was impressive in his inaugural start at quarterback for the Trojans, completing 7-9 passes for 192 yards. The sophomore heaved a 55-yard strike to Kinnick Juhl, a 70-yarder to Xavier Darrow, and T.D. tosses to Colton Rasmussen for six, seven, and 38 yards. Sophomore fullback Gavin McLaren opened some eyes with three long runs, his most prolonged 64 yards. The sophomore carried the ball seven times for 135 yards, Dante Hedrington, 12 for 102 yards, and Tyson O’Brien toted the ball six times for 23.
The Trojans opened up a 14-lead on Parker’s 55-yard T.D. throw to Juhl and Dante Hedrington’s six-yard run. The Indians answered midway through the second quarter on Jack Cooley’s two-yard T.D. pass to Brock Watson to make it a 14-7 contest with 8:39 left in the first half. The visitors countered with back-to-back touchdown passes of six and seven yards to Rasmussen and a 26-7 lead at the break.
In the second half, Clarke closed the gap to 26-13 on Jack Cooley’s three-yard run, but the Trojans answered with Parker’s 38-yard T.D. pass to Rasmussen and a 33-13 lead late in the third quarter.
The Indians plugged away, scoring 13 straight points and narrowing the gap to 33-26 with 9:04 left in the game. Atlantic tailback Dante Hedrington kicked into gear in the fourth quarter with impressive carries, including an 11-yard run to paydirt for a 40-26 lead. However, Clarke stormed back on Brock Watson’s kickoff return and, following the extra point, trailed 40-33 with 5:52 left.
Atlantic, faced with a third and 12, went to the air. Parker took the snap settled in the pocket, with a defender bearing down him, and fired a pass over the middle to a wide-open Xavier Darrow, who raced into the end zone on a 70-yard play to give the Trojans the 47-33 lead and final.
Clarke quarterback Jack Cooley was 21/36 passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Watson led the receiving corp with nine catches for 100 yards. The Indians rushed for 169 yards, led by Oscar Castro’s eight carries for 85 yards.
Atlantic hosts Glenwood next Friday night in a non-district game at 7:00 p.m. We will have the broadcast on 95.7 F.M. and live video-streamed on westerniowatoday.com. Clarke travels to Knoxville.
After the game, Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer’s comments are posted below.
Watch the live video stream of the game posted below.
