There is no such thing as winning ugly.

Not this time of year.

Parkway Central learned that in Wednesday night's Class 5 regional.

The Colts got a scare from three-win McCluer and escaped to the sectionals with a 15-6 victory.

The Comets (3-8) scored on Devon Coleman's 11-yard run on a counter with eight minutes and 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter. A conversion run attempt to tie the game was snuffed out.

On the ensuing possession, Parkway Central had to recover its own fumble and then road the broad shoulders of senior running back Lee Ward. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Ward converted two key third down runs on the drive that ended with Patrick Healey's 37-yard touchdown on a reverse with just under a minute left in the game.

Though they enjoyed the end the means to it didn't sit well .

“We came out a little flat and we're pretty disappointed with how we did. We have to come out better next week,” Ward said. “I guess we kind of underestimated McCluer. We had to persevere through tonight and champions have to do that kind of thing.”

With the win, Parkway Central (9-2) will travel to Timberland (9-1) for a Class 5 sectional on Monday at 7 p.m.

“We will be spending a long night tonight focusing on them,” Parkway Central coach Mark Goldenberg said. “I don't know much about them because we needed to focus on this one. It may not have looked like it, but we did.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Colts set up shop at their own 30. Tough runs by Logan Boyher and Mikquel Johnson led to Wards three-yard TD plunge. Healey's conversion run on a fake kick made it 8-0.

McCluer was far more impressive than its record showed. Junior James Moore, the squad's usual running back, played quarterback for most of the game due to injuries. Moore was more than adequate under center and proved a tough nut to crack. He and Ward, and outstanding inside linebacker, had more than one high-end collisions on the night.

The Comets had scoring opportunities on its first two possessions but came up empty, including a missed 25-yard field goal.

“We've struggled to score all year,” McCluer coach Joe Henke said. “We haven't had a real quarterback that can lead the team. Sometimes when we move the ball we kill ourselves because we don't have an experienced leader in the huddle.”

It was McCluer's defense that held the game together.

The Colts came into the game averaging 22 points a game. But they have failed to crack the 20-point margin in each of their last three games.

Ward rushed for 142 yards but Parkway Central failed to complete a pass.

“I give a lot of credit to their defense. They really frustrated us,” Goldenberg said. “We didn't throw the ball particularly well and we got one dimensional.”

bauten@yourjournal.com