In a game that featured exactly one defensive stop, it was a pair of crucial mistakes on offense that ultimately did in the John Paul II Catholic High School football team in a 66-60 home loss to Parrott on Friday evening.
Two fumbles by the Saints — one in the first quarter, one in the second — paved the way for Parrott to stake itself to a 32-8 lead midway through the second period. JPII clawed its way back and tied it first at 38, then at 46, then at 52, and then a fourth time at 60, before a 75-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Sanderson to Jaylen Soloman on third-and-5 as time expired provided the final margin.
JPII ended the regular season at 9-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big 8. Parrott finished at 8-1 and 5-0. Eight teams will make the 8-man postseason, with Parrott seeded No. 1 and JPII second, setting up a potential rematch in three weeks. The pairings will be announced over the weekend. JPII is expected to host next Friday, Nov. 4.
“I’m proud of our kids for not giving up after a bad start,” JPII coach Sean Murphy said. “Our kids will learn from this loss.”
Rion Roseborough played truly one of the most impressive games of his stellar JPII career, finishing with 305 yards rushing on 29 carries. He also scored six touchdowns and converted six two-point conversions for a total of 48 points. And on top of all of that, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound senior spent considerable time in the field on the defensive line.
But in the end it wasn’t enough. The Patriots had a big-play back of their own in Ashton Brinson, who continually gained big chunks of yardage both up the middle and around the end and accounted for three touchdowns and two conversions. They also took advantage of a JPII defense missing a key player from the secondary to hit several big plays, not the least of which was the final play of the game. Sanderson tossed four touchdowns, with Soloman also catching one for 27 yards, Paxton Riley one for 10 and Andrew Daniels one for 10. Additionally, Soloman had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
JPII’s other touchdowns were scored by Wyatt Stamatis and Brody Mitchell. Stamatis scored on a 14-yard pass from Mitchell with 17.2 seconds left in the first half, pulling the Saints within 38-24 at halftime. After Roseboro’s 9-yard scoring run with 9:02 left in the third made it 38-32, the Saints came up with what proved to be the only defensive stop of the night, forcing a Parrott punt. Roseborough finished off the next drive with a 35-yard touchdown run, making it 38-38. On the failed conversion try, however, all-state lineman Joey Koesters left game with an apparent knee injury and did not return.
From there the two teams traded TDs — one a 47-yard run by Mitchell — until the game-clincher for Parrott.
“It was an exciting game that went down to the wire,” Murphy said. “Both offenses were outstanding tonight. Credit Parrott on making the big play when they had to.”
PARROTT 16 22 0 28 — 66
JPII 8 16 14 22 — 60
AP—Ashton Brinson 5 run (Brinson run)
AP—Brinson 3 run (Caleb Sanderson run)
JPII—Rion Roseborough 14 run (Roseborough run)
AP—Jaylen Soloman 27 pass from Sanderson (Brinson run)
AP—Paxton Riley 10 pass from Sanderson (Brinson run)
JPII—Roseborough 4 run (Roseborough run)
AP—Andrew Daniels 10 pass from Sanderson (run failed)
JPII—Wyatt Stamatis 14 pass from Brody Mitchell (Roseborough run)
JPII—Roseborough 9 run (Roseborough run)
JPII—Roseborough 35 run (pass failed)
AP—Brinson 9 run (Brinson run)
JPII—Mitchell 47 run (Roseborough run)
AP—Daniels 3 run (run failed)
JPII—Roseborough 19 run (run failed)
AP—Soloman 90 kickoff return (Brinson run)
JPII—Roseborough 18 run (Roseborough run)
AP—Soloman 75 pass from Sanderson (no try)
