After starting the season with three losses through the first four weeks, the Panthers won their final nine games – capped off with a 40-29 victory over Houston St. Thomas in the TAPPS Division 1 state championship on Saturday in Waco.
Parish (10-3) captures a state title for the FIFTH STRAIGHT season.
The Panthers went 5-7 during the 2017 season. Then went 10-4 and appeared in the championship game in 2018. In the past six seasons, they have posted a 66-11 record with six title game trips.
Against St. Thomas, Parish posted over 400 yards of offense with 275 yards rushing.
Quarterback and Purdue commit Sawyer Anderson was 16 of 24 for 143 yards and one touchdown. Maddux Reid rushed 34 times for 188 yards and four touchdowns. Bryson Fields caught seven passes for 75 yards and one score.
Parish led 12-7 at halftime before outscoring St. Thomas 28-22 in the third and fourth quarters.
Anderson found Fields on a 13-yard touchdown, but after a missed extra point, Parish pulled within 7-6 after the first quarter. Reid, who’s committed to Harvard, rushed in a 2-yard TD to give the Panthers a 12-7 lead in the second quarter.
Anderson scored on a 25-yard touchdown run to up the lead to 19-7 in the third quarter.
Reid added touchdown runs of 14 and 2 yards to help Parish pull away in the fourth quarter. Caleb Bowers and Kyle Hamburger powered the defense with a fumble recovery and interception, respectively.
