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North 41 Bosse 7 - Enlow Field Aug. 17, 2007

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Offense

Offensive line blocking scores:

Johnson          Allgood           Todd                Foster             Douglas          Borman                       

North 41 – Bosse 7                   71%                 75%            80%               70%                  75%                81%

Defense

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http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/aug/18/dont-underestimate-him/

Don't underestimate him - Parkman helps spark North

By DREW BRUNO
Courier & Press staff writer 464-7523 or brunoa@courierpress.com
Saturday, August 18, 2007

Depending on your perspective, Ryan Parkman has either been plagued by first impressions or has profited from them.

Parkman and his North teammates had been working for months on making what they hoped would be a lasting impression in their season opening football game, a 41-7 victory over Bosse.

North's offense took exactly three plays to score its first touchdown at Enlow Field Friday night, and despite some lulls and penalty-prone play between scores, the Huskies rolled.

A senior, Parkman played a crucial role in that. He is a three-year starter and had seven career touchdowns as a wide receiver entering the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference matchup. Friday he scored his first on defense, an interception and 35-yard return — part of a three-touchdown third quarter for the Huskies.

"When I'm on the field, people underestimate me a lot," said Parkman, who is listed at 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds. "When they see me on the field doing what I do, it catches them off guard and allows me to do good.

"I use that to my advantage a lot," he added grinning.

Parkman also had 62 yards receiving. Coach Mike Wilson said Thursday he hoped North's new, spread offense would help the wideouts thrive. While the Huskies featured a solid running game — Larry Merriweather rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Dion Pendleton carried for 54 more yards and two more scores on the ground — the passing game was efficient if not spectacular. Pendleton was 8-for-17 for 159 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, including the two completions to Parkman.

But Parkman's greatest play might have been a tackle, not any of the catches on offense or the big one on defense.

As time expired in the first half, Bosse's Joquin Cunningham broke a big run and cut for the sideline. Parkman was the only defender left. He chose an angle and caught Cunningham after 44 yards — 8 yards short of the end zone. Instead of being up 13-6 or 13-7 at halftime, North led 13-0.

"That was huge," Wilson said. "A huge momentum swing. We were lucky to keep them out."

Said Parkman: "We just wanted to keep the momentum going; we were trying to shut them out."

While the Huskies didn't get the shutout, they're now hoping the momentum will stay with them into next week's game with Henderson County.

North is eyeing a Class 5A sectional championship and whatever more it can get, according to Parkman, and Wilson said the opening game is the most important of the regular season. Although they were whistled for six penalties for 65 yards, Wilson said there were spurts of good play. "It's huge," Wilson said of winning the first game. "Everything that you've been working on for the whole offseason comes down to that first game."

As much as he liked the result, Wilson said he won't bank too much on the first impression given by North. He's seen other mistakes in snap judgments with Parkman.

"I think when they see him move, they change their mind about his stature," Wilson said. "He has some of the quickest feet around."

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