MOULTRIE —
Of the eight teams remaining in the Class AAAAAA playoffs, Parkview might be the most unlikely to still be in the hunt for a state championship.
The winner of state championships in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002, Parkview had not posted a winning record since 2008 when it entered the 2012 season.
The Panthers were 5-5 in 2009, 5-6 in 2010 and 4-6 last year.
And even this season, Parkview opened with a 3-0 win over Peachtree Ridge then lost to Norcross 20-0.
But the Panthers then rolled off five victories in a row, starting with a then-surprising 22-7 win over defending state champion Grayson. Two weeks later, the Panthers knocked off 2010 state champion Brookwood in another key Region 8-AAAAAA game.
But after blanking Shiloh to go to 6-1, Parkview fell to central Gwinnett in overtime 30-27 and two weeks later lost to South Gwinnett 16-14 in its final game of the regular season.
But as they prepare to play host to Colquitt County on Friday in a quarterfinal game at the Big Orange Jungle, the Panthers have won two straight playoff games, both in overtime, eliminating 2012 state finalist Walton 20-17 and, last Friday, West Forsyth 26-23.
The win over Walton was the first in postseason for Parkview since 2005.
And the Panthers have won those last two games without having leading rusher Chris Carson, who had gained more than 1,100 yards and had scored 17 touchdowns when he suffered a broken leg in the win over Berkmar on Nov. 2.
Parkview, the No. 3 seed from Region 8, will take a 9-3 record into Friday’s game after rallying to defeat West Forsyth in Cumming last week.
The Panthers trailed 17-13 at the half, but did not give up another touchdown.
With the game tied 20-20 after regulation, the Wolverines had the first possession in overtime, but Parkview’s Justis Rosser and Sam Willis sacked quarterback A.J. Erdely forcing a 46-yard field goal attempt.
Timmy Hartshorn converted, putting the Wolverines up 23-20.
But the lead did not last one play.
On Parkview’s first possession, Rosser ran around left end for the game-winning touchdown.
Parkview took the lead in the game on its first possession when quarterback Rob Youngblood connected with Mac Marshall on a 37-yard touchdown pass.
Youngblood completed 6-of-10 attempts for 102 yards and the touchdown.
Parkview had a chance to win the game in regulation when it recovered a West Forsyth fumble on its own 49 with 3:42 remaining, but was forced to punt.
Parkview is still coached by Cecil Flowe, who has posted a 194-59-0 record since taking over the program in 1993.
Among his victories are four against Colquitt County.
The two programs met for the first time in 1997 in the state semifinals in the Georgia Dome.
The Packers led 7-0 until Parkview scored to tie the game with just seconds remaining. The Panthers then scored in overtime for the victory and defeated Tift County the next weekend to claim their first state championship.
Parkview came to Moultrie the next year for a state quarterfinal game and the Packers won 29-9.
In the 1999, the two teams met in the Corky Kell Classic in the Georgia Dome and the Parkview prevailed 7-3.
The two teams met in the regular season in 2004 and 2005 with the Panthers winning both games, 35-7 in Lilburn and 35-14 in Moultrie.
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Related Photos
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John Boatwright scoots down the sideline and past Tray Matthews (28) to score what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the 26-23 victory over Newnan last Friday. Connie Southwell
Discussion
Parkview rides two overtime wins into quarterfinals
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