Sheperd Getting Help as Parkway Central Keeps Improving

Going into Parkway Central’s , all eight of the Colts’ touchdowns started with quarterback Cole Gorman and ended with wide receiver Brandon Sheperd.

But against Northwest this past Friday, the dynamic duo invited four teammates to their private scoring party.

The first to join the festivities was Devon Westley. The senior running back scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter, capping a 68-yard drive that also included an 18-yard reception by Wesley. In the second quarter, it was senior Eriq Moore, who caught an 18-yard TD pass from Gorman. Then in the third quarter, senior  Jace Roman ended a 55-yard Parkway Central drive by plowing through Northwest’s defensive line for a 1-yard TD run. And in the fourth, it was junior Jake Bushman who followed his own 12-yard, first-down run from the Lions’ 35 with a 23-yard TD run with 11:35 remaining in the game.

Sheperd scored as well, of course—twice. He now ranks third in scoring throughout the St. Louis region. And all of the Colts’ TD passes were thrown by Gorman. But unlike their first two games, Friday’s highlights were more evenly distributed.

Although coach Mark Goldenberg was obviously pleased with his array of playmakers, he felt the offensive lined shined brightest.

“I thought the offensive line played phenomenal,” Goldenberg said. “We didn’t give up a sack, and we threw the ball around pretty good in the first half. I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage, which is a goal of ours. For the first time, we did it, which made a lot of tonight’s offense go.”

And boy did it go against Northwest. The Colts’ racked up 402 yards in total offense, including 133 in the air and 269 on the ground. Their running game was led by Westley, who ended the game with 121 yards. Gorman connected on six-of-11 passes for 133 yards.

So far this season, Parkway Central (3-0, 2-0) has amassed 1,085 yards of offense, and it has outscored opponents, 115-21. But two of those opponents (Northwest and Seckman) have yet to win a game in 2011, and the other one (Ladue) entered Saturday’s contest against McCluer South-Berkeley at 0-2. Whether Goldenberg’s team has been truly tested is debatable.

“We’ve been tested at times,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve been tested as much as we’re going to be tested down the road. We’re getting better. That’s the goal right now.”

Down the road await Kirkwood and Webster Groves, two teams currently ranked ahead of the Colts. Kirkwood played Hazelwood Central on Saturday, and Webster Groves beat a tough SLUH team on Friday, 49-28.

Northwest also has some powerful teams waiting in the wings. Four of the Lions’ next five games will be against winning teams: Lafayette, Parkway South, Lindbergh and Eureka.

Northwest’s 42-point loss to Parkway Central wasn’t without opportunities. After its first two possessions ended with three-and-outs, the Lions started moving the ball downfield with a 25-yard first-down pass from quarterback Adnan Al-Amami, followed by a defensive pass interference call. With more than two minutes left in the first quarter, the Lions had 1st and 10 on the Colts’ 34-yard line and were losing by only 13 points.

But on first down, they lost a yard. On second down, Al-Amami was sacked nine yards behind the line of scrimmage. And on 3rd and 20, Al-Amami’s pass fell incomplete, and the Lions punted. Parkway Central then drove 71 yards and scored a touchdown.

Another opportunity slipped through the Lions’ fingers in the second quarter when Parkway Central fumbled a punt return and Northwest pounced on the ball in Colts’ territory. A Northwest penalty negated the punt and forced a second one, which Parkway Central held onto at midfield. The Colts’ Zack Lazenby would later kick a 26-yard field goal.

The Lions failed to take advantage of a third opportunity in the third quarter, when they forced Parkway Central to punt for the first time. Another Northwest penalty negated the punt, which gave the Colts a first down on the Lions’ 35-yard line. Two minutes later, Parkway Central scored its sixth touchdown of the game.