Parkway North Suffers Second Straight Defeat Despite Comeback

UNIVERSITY CITY–After two weeks of intermittent great plays one moment and poor throws and decisions the next, University City quarterback DeAndre Williams decided it was time to put it all together and show off the total package.

And boy, what a show he put on Friday at Muhl-Schemmer Stadium, when he threw three touchdown passes, ran for a fourth, and made all the key plays in the fourth quarter to lead U. City to a thrilling 25-20 win over Suburban South Conference rival .

“I’ve always thought that at critical times, you give the ball to your best player,” U. City head coach Carl Reed said. “If I’m going down, I’m going down with the ball in DeAndre Williams’ hands.”

And Reed made sure to go all in with Williams, with the game on the line in the final minutes of Friday’s ballgame.

U. City was clinging to its 25-20 lead, and trying to run out the clock to preserve its first win of the season, and Reed’s first-ever victory as a head coach.

But the Parkway North defense was breathing fire at the Lions, trying to force a fourth down and a punt, so it could get the ball back, and possibly win the game in the final seconds.

And the Vikings got what they wanted, forcing a 4th-and-1 for U. City from its own 31-yard line.

But during a timeout, in which Reed had already decided to punt, Williams begged the coach for the chance to run a play that would get the one yard, and allow the Lions to keep the ball and run out the clock.

“I just told him, ‘Coach, I know I can get one yard’,” Williams said. “We wanted this win so bad. There’s no way I was gonna let them stop me.”

And he didn’t, breaking around right end for a scintillating 14-yard gain that gave U. City its coveted first down and preserved the victory.

“He’s a special young man,” Reed said. “He’s our best player. Our best leader. And this is his time to shine. I’m very proud of him.”

Nearly everyone wearing black and gold was, as Williams threw for a career-high 339 yards, along with the four combined scores to lead an offense that produced nearly 500 total yards against a traditionally stiff Parkway North defense.

“(Coach Reed) may say I’m the best player, but I’m a team player,” Williams said. “I wanted to make it for my team. That was my motivation.”

U. City is now 1-2 on the season, as is Parkway North, which lost its second game in a row, despite a three-touchdown effort by junior running back Jovonte Suber.

The Vikings got a bit of rough news before the game, as it was revealed that star running back/linebacker Donavin Newsom would have arthroscopic knee surgery and could possibly miss the rest of the season.

“Best-case scenario would be we get him back in 4-6 weeks,” North head coach Bob Bunton said. “The other option is we don’t get him back at all. We really hope that doesn’t happen.”

In Newsom’s absence though, the Vikes might have found themselves a new No. 1 tailback.

Suber was just fantastic, carrying the ball 22 times for 76 yards and the three scores, while also playing nearly every down on defense, and working as North’s punt and kick returner.

“He’s just that kind of kid that doesn’t want to leave the field,” Bunton said. “And he’ll definitely be our new No. 1 back. He showed today he could handle the load. So we feel confident giving it to him.”

Other stars from the day were U. City receivers Alex Henry (six catches, 168 yards, three touchdowns) and Mario Wallace (five catches for 111 yards), and Parkway North junior noseguard Rafe Janssen, who led the Viking defense with eight tackles, a quarterback sack, and a forced fumble.

North will look to get back on the winning track next Friday, when it will host a nonconference game against Wentzville Timberland.

U. City, on the other hand, will travel to Chesterfield next week, to take on .

Both those games are slated for 7 p.m. kickoffs.

SCORING SUMMARY

Score by Quarters

F

Parkway North

0

0

7

13

20

University City

7

6

6

6

25

First Quarter

UC: Alex Henry 13 pass from DeAndre Williams (Doug McCray kick), 10:05

Second Quarter

UC: Alex Henry 26 pass from DeAndre Williams (pass failed), 10:40

Third Quarter

UC: DeAndre Williams 1 run (kick failed), 6:17

PN: Jovonte Suber 9 run (Michael Bozarth kick), 3:22

Fourth Quarter

PN: Jovonte Suber 2 run (Michael Bozarth kick), 10:53

UC: Alex Henry 8 pass from DeAndre Williams (run failed), 7:20

PN: Jovonte Suber 1 run (pass failed), 3:51