Parkway West running back Steve May breaks past defensive back Antonio Evans (left) in the second quarter.
(Photo by Sarah Conard) |
CHESTERFIELD — The Parkway West football team honored its 20 seniors before Friday night's Class 5 District 1 finale against visiting Eureka, a group of Longhorns who won just three games a season ago and had not won a district championship.
But Parkway West could celebrate on Friday night. Running back Steve May scored a late touchdown, and the defense stopped Eureka on a two-point conversion with 34.8 seconds left to preserve a 21-20 victory and give the Longhorns their first district title since 2001.
"We've had a lot of struggles," said third-year West coach Mike Roth, who got a Gatorade shower as soon as the final horn sounded. "I'm so proud of my senior leadership, our 20 seniors. It means a lot for our program."
After going 3-7 in each of the last two seasons, Parkway West improved to 8-2 overall, 4-2 in the Suburban South Conference and, more important, 3-0 in Class 5 District 1 play. The Longhorns next meet either McCluer North (9-0) or Hazelwood East (8-1) in the Class 5 quarterfinals next week.
Parkway West led 14-0 in the second quarter, but the score was tied 14-14 late in the fourth. The Longhorns' offense didn't gain a first down in their first four possessions of the second half, but quarterback Blaine Gabbert and Co. got things rolling with a few minutes left on the clock.
Gabbert converted a third-down-and-7 situation with a 20-yard pass across the middle to tight end Darrell Dixon, and converted a second third-down with a 4-yard run.
After a 17-yard pass from Gabbert to Connor Mach got the Longhorns in the red zone. May, a senior running back, sliced through the Wildcats' defense for a 16-yard touchdown run and a 21-14 lead with 2:38 left.
"Stevie May is just a warrior," Roth said. "He's been a workhorse for us all year. Blaine's been very good for us, but Stevie really makes us go. I'm just so happy for him, because as good as a football player as he is, he's a better person."
Eureka (6-4 overall, 3-3 in league play, 2-1 in districts) answered with a 12-play scoring drive, including five straight pass completions from quarterback Matt Borzillo to tight end Caleb Dixon, and capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run by Jason Ralph with 34.8 seconds left.
The Wildcats, who had a field goal blocked in the second quarter and missed a 40-yard field goal wide left earlier in the fourth, came up 3 yards short when the Longhorns' defense stuffed Ralph on the two-point conversion attempt.
"I felt better getting 3 yards than trying to stop them and score (in overtime)," Eureka coach Farrell Shelton said. "Our offense was definitely struggling. In the second half, we had numerous chances down inside the 30."
Parkway West's Jordon Young recovered the ensuing kickoff at his 8-yard line, and the Longhorns were able to celebrate their first trip to the playoffs since 2001.
"It feels great," said May, who rushed for 105 yards on 18 carries. "The core group of this team has been playing together for so long, and now I think we're finally peaking. We're playing together real well. We're all best of friends."
