For the first time in more than a decade, the Park Hill South football team has won its first four games of the fall season.
Park Hill South headed to William Chrisman on Friday, Sept. 17, and didn’t allow the Bears to score more than once in any quarter en route to a 44-21 victory. The Panthers struck first with a 36-yard dart from Nathan Ricco to Mudia Reuben in the first quarter for an early 7-0 lead.
The Bears answered with a touchdown, but still trailed after a failed two-point conversion. Darrien Jones closed out the first quarter with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to extend Park Hill South’s lead to two possessions.
Park Hill South’s Darrien Jones was credited with 96 total scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on Friday, Sept. 17.
The Panther’s defense and special teams stepped up in the second quarter to force a Bear’s field goal and blocked the attempt. Roger Guillory picked up the ball and returned it 65 yards for a Park Hill South touchdown.
Briggs Bartosh added another touchdown to his impressive junior campaign with a 3-yard rush later in the second quarter. William Chrisman scored a late first half touchdown and Park Hill South led 28-13 at the break.
The Panther defense kept the Bears off the scoreboard in the third quarter as Park Hill South scored 10 unanswered points in the quarter. Mason Love knocked down a field goal from 26 yards out and Jones rushed in for six more Panther points for the second time on the night.
Bartosh showed off his impressive running abilities in the fourth quarter when he returned a punt for 55 yards to put the Panthers up 44-13. The junior ended the night with one reception for nine yards and 54 rushing yards on seven carries for one touchdown.
Jones was the leading rusher for Park Hill South, ending with 77 yards on seven attempts and one reception for 19 yards. Ricco completed six of his 14 pass attempts for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Reuben was the only Panther with multiple catches when the wide receiver brought in two catches for 33 yards and a score. In addition to his special teams’ touchdown, Guillory ended with one sack, two tackles for loss and a team-high 12 total tackles.
James Williams finished with 11 total tackles and led the team with two sacks and four tackles for loss. Torrin Zeigler and Kiros Martin both ended with one sack, five total tackles and one assisted tackle.
After spending the last two Fridays on the road, the Panthers will be back at their home field this week. Park Hill South (4-0) is set to host Oak Park (1-3) at Park Hill High School at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24.