Parma wins second straight 2A title with 36-20 win over Declo
Kramer named player of the game
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
scottf@argusobserver.com
Friday, November 20, 2009 6:47 PM PST
The Parma Panhers end their 2A tenure as state champions with a 36-20 victory over the Declo Hornets Friday at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
The Panthers defense shut down the Hornets defense in the red zone early and often. Parma scored the games first points on an 11 yard run by Lance Johnson. Devin Erikson kicked the point after and the Panthers led 7-0 with 2:14 left in the opening quarter.
Declo answered with a score late in the second quarter on a 49-yard quarterback draw. Declo failed on the PAT and Parma led 7-6.
WIth 59 seconds remaining in the opening half, Johnson was in the end zone for the second time in the first half, this time on a one-yard run. Erikson's kick made the score 14-6 at the break.
The Panthers opened the second half of play with a three-play, 65-yard scoring drive, which was capped off by a 57-yard catch and run from Parma quarterback Trever Kramer to Tyler Ford. Erikson's kick was true and Parma extended its lead to 21-6 with 10:36 remaining in the third quarter.
Declo, however, was not ready to throw in the towel and on its first possession of the second half put together a three-play, 65-yard drive which ended in a 64 yard touchdown pass from Declo's Jeremy Jenkins to McCoy Stoker. Again, the Hornet PAT failed making the score 21-12.
Early in the fourth quarter, Declo was in the end zone again, as they took advantage of a Panther turnover — an interception at the Parma 20 yard line. The score came on a two-yard run by Jenkins, who engineered a 16-play, 73-yard drive. Declo opted for the two-point conversion and were successfull bringing the score to 21-20, Parma with 9:47 left in regulation.
Parma, not wanting to let its lead slip away, went to work from its own 20 yard line, but could not get anything going and were forced to punt — that's when the game changed. Following a booming kick, the ball bounced into a Declo player and Parma recovered the pigskin at Declo's 13 yard line and on the next play Ford made the Hornets pay for the mistake has he punched the ball into end zone with 7:57 remaining in the game. Erikson kick was wide right, but he was run into, giving the Panthers another shot. This time they went for the two points and Johnson waltzed in to make the score 29-20.
Kramer put the icing on the cake with a late score and Parma claimed its second title in as many years winnning 36-20.
