Patriots drop region opener to Parker

The Homewood High School football team looked like it was on its way to picking up a momentous victory when it entered Friday's halftime break with an 18-7 lead over visiting Parker.

Chestin Jones had already rushed for 54 yards and two touchdowns, and the Patriots’ defense had forced more safeties (two) than the number of first downs it had given up (one).

But after the intermission, Parker demonstrated why its nickname is the Thundering Herd.

Spurred by three touchdowns of 17, 25 and 35 yards, Parker (2-0, 1-0) posted 21 second-half points and rumbled to a 28-25 region-opening victory against Homewood (1-2, 0-1) at Waldrop Stadium.

“They got the momentum right after halftime, and we never could get it back,” Patriots head coach Ben Berguson said. “They made plays they had to, and we didn’t.”

After stifling the Thundering Herd through two quarters, the Homewood defense surrendered scoring drives on its opponent’s first two possessions of the second half.

First, Parker quarterback Javonte Hurst rushed for a 17-yard TD to trim Homewood’s lead to 18-14.

Then on the Herd’s following possession, quarterback Jacob Millhouse connected with wide receiver Eugene Minter down the seam for a 25-yard passing touchdown. Parker faced fourth-and-10 on the pivotal play, and the score gave it a 21-18 advantage.

“That’s a tough bunch of young men. They fought through adversity. They had their backs against the wall, and they fought out of it,” Thundering Herd head coach Andre Robinson said. “I can’t say enough about them.”

Homewood appeared to receive a game-changing lift from Jones, the running back, at the 10:45 mark in the fourth quarter. Facing third-and-21 from his own 40, Jones slashed through the core of Parker’s defense, barreled through a cornerback-turned-bowling pin and scampered down the right sideline for a 60-yard TD. The score gave Homewood a 25-21 lead.

“He had a huge run,” Berguson said.

Despite the burst of wind in its sails generated by Jones' TD, the Patriots couldn’t hold on to the fourth-quarter lead.

Patriots defensive back and return man C.D. Daniels muffed a fair catch at his own 35-yard line with under three minutes left to play, setting Parker up with prime field position.

Homewood had held its opponent to a three-and-out on the possession before the punt.

Two plays later, Parker's Millhouse hit wide receiver Jonaise Johnson on a 35-yard fly route down the right sideline for a touchdown. The score gave Parker a 28-25 lead that it wouldn't surrender.

“I was really proud of how we played, but our defense stayed on the field too long in the second half,” Berguson said.

The Patriots offense didn’t sustain a drive of more than five plays in the final two quarters until its final possession of the game, which lasted eight plays and ended in a turnover on downs.

In addition to the stagnant offense, it’s worth noting that Homewood missed a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. A successful attempt could have added three critical points to the team's total.

On the ground, Jones racked up 123 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Ty Hatcher and Larkin Williams continued to share time at quarterback, as the two swapped signal-calling duties every two drives.                      

Hatcher started the game and went 6-of-9 passing for 34 yards. Williams went 10-of-16 passing for 89 yards.

Wide receiver TyShawn Buckner hauled in eight receptions of 54 yards.

Next week, Homewood will play its second region game at Jackson-Olin.

“We’ve got to work and get ready for J.O. next week," Berguson said.