Game Preview: Parkway Central Set for First Road Test

A fresh season for Seckman football kicks off at 8 p.m. on Friday night as the Jaguars host .

Because of safety concerns over heat, the original game time of 7 p.m. has been pushed back. After waiting nine months to play since its final game of 2010, that extra hour may prove to be unbearable for Seckman.

New head coach Jamie Critchlow faces a stiff test in his first game as Parkway Central is already 1-0 after a resounding 31-14 defeat of Ladue at home last Friday. The Colts went 6-4 last season, including 5-2 in the extremely tough Suburban South Conference.

In that win, Parkway Central star wide receiver Brandon Sheperd had nine catches for 114 yards, and three runs for 30 yards and three total touchdowns. Expect head coach Mark Goldenberg to be creative in finding ways to get Sheperd the ball. Senior quarterback Cole Gorman went 11-of-16 for 152 yards and two TDs last week.

“He’s smart and he makes great decisions,” Goldenberg told Patch last Friday. “He (Gorman) had a phenomenal game. He gets us into good plays. I trust him to do that and he did a great job.”

For Seckman, the game plan is simple and the excessive heat may prove to be very beneficial. The Jaguars will showcase one of the area’s top talents in senior running back Blake Pepper. At 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, Pepper is a workhorse of a runner, and his elusive abilities may wear down the Colts defense in the stifling conditions.

In 2010, Pepper raced for 1,575 yards on 284 carries. He is the Suburban South Conference’s leading returning rusher and the main reason Jaguars fans can hope see their team finish better than last season’s 3-8 mark.

“Blake has really picked up right where he left off last year,” Critchlow said. “He had nearly 2,000 yards rushing last year and we’re looking for big things from him this season.”

Critchlow, who was Seckman’s offensive coordinator the past two years, will also feature senior receiver Zach Naes, who had 18 catches for 259 yards in 2010.

Remember, Patch is pleased to announce that we are partnering with Prepcasts.com to help you follow your local high school football teams this season through live online audio streaming. Prepcasts is video streaming v. Howell Central football Friday.

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(Have some local sports news, or story ideas? Please email Patch sports editor Brian Doolittle at briandoolittle@hotmail.com)