Arkansas high school football playoffs: Little Rock Parkview rolls past Mills

The Patriots led 28-0 at halftime and cruised to the 35-6 win

LITTLE ROCK — Little Rock Parkview (12-0) claimed local bragging rights and advanced to the Class 5A semifinals with a 35-6 victory over Mills (9-3) at War Memorial Stadium.

Parkview will host either Camden Fairview for Batesville Southside in the Class 5A semifinals Friday.

The Patriots scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 28-0 halftime lead. Cobey Davis scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left in the third quarter to put the Arkansas Activities Association’s mercy rule into effect, allowing Parkview head coach Brad Bolding to empty his bench. 

Eric McGehee (35 yards), Monterrio Elston (40 yards), Cody Davis (3 and 4 yards) and Jaden Ashford (13 yards) had rushing touchdowns for the Patriots. Mills’ touchdown came with 1:59 left when Achilles Ringo threw 9 yards to Akyell Madison.

The Patriots dominated the line of scrimmage, holding Mills to minus-29 yards rushing in the first half, including four sacks, getting three in a row in the middle of the second quarter.

3 Takeaways

1

 The Parkview defensive line dominated the game, collecting five sacks and holding Mills to minus-11 yards rushing on 17 attempts.

"I thought our defense played really well,” said Parkview head coach Brad Bolding. “I thought both sides, our offensive and defensive lines played really well.

“Our defensive line really got after them and our linebackers did a great job getting into the gaps. They had a few times where they hit us for some runs when we were in a stunt, but we we were to get after them.”

Mills head coach Cortez Lee said, “I thought we had to move the ball and control the ball when we had opportunities, but we kept getting behind the sticks. They played well and we didn’t get too many yards.”

Lee, whose team had relied on the passing game with Ringo, was hoping to find away to stay ahead of the chains and stay out of long-yardage situations, but that was not the case. Ringo completed 17-of-33 passes for 143 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

As a result, Bolding was able to put in a game plan to keep Mills on their heels for most of the night.

“We knew they threw the ball about 85 percent of the time,” said Bolding. “We felt we were good enough to stop the run. We had some good stunts. We dialed them up and got them into long-yardage situations and when that happens, there’s not a whole lot you can do.”

2

Short fields helped Parkview put the game away in the second quarter. A 10-yard punt by Ringo gave Parkview the ball at its 39 where Monterrio Elston (six carries for 83 yards), ran for 21 yards and then 40 yards on the next play to put the Patriots up 14-0.

Mills went three and out when Omarion Robinson returned a punt 53 yards to the Mills’ 3. One play later, Davis scored to make it 21-0 at the 5:47 mark.

A 24-yard punt gave Parkview the ball at is 44. Facing third and 15 from the Mills’ 30, McGehee ran 17 yards to Mills 13 for a first down and one play later, Jaden Ashford scored with 29 seconds left in the half to make it 28-0.

“I thought in the first half, our defense played lights out. It was 7-0 and then the second quarter, we started having a lot of miscues and giving them a short field,” said Lee.

3

Parkview’s rushing game was in fine form with 255 yards on 33 attempts, picking up 17 first downs. In addition to Elston, Cameron Settles had 71 yards on 7 carries. Eight different players carried the ball.

Bolding said the key is mix of different backs and an offensive line that dominates.

“All year, we’ve done a great job with our offensive line, changing the line and walking them backwards,” said Bolding. “They are big and very strong and all of them squat over 500 pounds. They were very successful moving and have four different backs and give the defense fresh legs.”

--Jeff Halpern