By CONOR NICHOLL
Parsons has its first 4-0 start since 2018 and second since 1990. The Vikings, known for their passing offense, defeated Prairie View 56-22, won at Labette County 39-28 and at Iola, 40-14, before they delivered a 61-8 home win versus Baxter Springs.
Prairie View is historically a strong team and finished No. 13 out of 48 squads in 3A last season with 18.2 points allowed a contest. Baxter Springs had opened a surprising 3-0.
Since Week 1, Prairie View has allowed just 23.7 points a game and won two of its last three games. Last year, PV never allowed more than 38 points a contest. It marked the most Prairie View had permitted since a 56-14 loss to Paola in Week 8 of the 2013 season.
Parsons finished 7-3 last season and scored 23.3 points a contest. The Vikings allowed 17.7 points a game, No. 11 in 3A. This year, the Vikings are up to 49 points per contest and will be favored in a 3A district home game against Riverton on Friday.
Parsons is part of challenging District 1 with Galena (2-2, 1-0), Frontenac (2-2, 0-0), Columbus (1-3, 0-1) and Baxter Springs (3-1, 0-1). Frontenac is the defending 3A runner-up. Galena hasn’t posted a losing record since ’03, per Kansas Football History.
Former coach Kurt Friess and current third-year coach Jeff Schibi have done a nice job with the Vikings. In 2018, Friess led a seven-win improvement to 8-3, the school’s first winning record in seven years and most wins since 1984.
Schibi is 3-6, 7-3 and 4-0 since he took over.
Last Friday, running back/outside linebacker Jahmarion Washington, wide receiver/defensive back Makai Baugh and running back/defensive back Kasey Beard earned team’s player of the game honors.
In Week 3, specialist Jayce Quirin, wide receiver/defensive back Jessie Jones, defensive end/running back Lonnie Brooks, and Washington were the team’s top players.
Junior Tra Mack has completed 34 of 51 passes for 906 yards with 16 scores against one interception. That’s a sizable improvement over last year when Parsons delivered 22 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.
Washington, a junior, has delivered 53 carries for 447 yards and six touchdowns. A senior, Jones has 10 catches for 423 yards and eight scores. Junior JJ Kendrick has 15 catches for 335 yards with five TDs. Jones has been key in the return game with 547 all-purpose yards. Senior Traeton Ginder paces with 27 tackles.
None of the returning players had more than 16 catches in 2021.
Parsons has been stout against the pass, too, Senior Marion Ryan has two interceptions and three passes defended. Senior Tre Pierce has seven passes defended, and senior Cam Kendrick has defended six passes. Quirin is one of the state’s top kickers with 22 of 25 extra points and two of two on field goals.
