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The Parry McCluer High School football team overpowered Mountain View on Friday night with a decisive 45-16 victory in Quicksburg.
With the win, the Fighting Blues improved their record to 3-1 on the season.
PM senior JJ Jones played another standout game. Jones scored the first touchdown of the night halfway through the first quarter. The Blues had obtained the ball after the Generals’ Adam Lambert suffered an ankle injury, forcing Mountain View (1-3) to punt.
Lambert did not return to the field after his injury. Mountain View head coach Kyle Kokkone told the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record that he saw his players’ morale drop when Lambert got injured. Kokkone said the team struggled to focus on the game after seeing their teammate hurt.
The Generals’ Izzie Espinal stepped out of bounds during a punt for a safety with less than three minutes left in the first quarter.
Jones rushed nearly 60 yards to score another touchdown during the second quarter. The Blues eventually built up a comfortable 37-0 halftime lead.
“[Jones] has been a big player for me right now on the offensive side,” PM head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough said.
Nathan Glass has also established himself as a strong quarterback for the Blues. “My quarterback’s already thrown 11, 12 touchdowns this season,” said coach Brockenbrough.
“We played a good game Friday night,” Brockenbrough added. “We had 402 total offensive yards; we didn’t give up but 120-some yards total on the defensive side.”
Parker Camden and Jackson Brockenbrough also distinguished themselves on the Blues’ defense.
“We’re playing the game as a team, which means a lot,” said coach Brockenbrough of his players. “They’re all playing with one goal.”
The Generals didn’t give up despite PM’s overwhelming offense. Sophomore German Salinas Ortiz scored the first touchdown for Mountain View in the fourth quarter off of a pass from Shreejee Patel.
Ortiz scored another touchdown off a 22-yard pass from Patel with just six minutes left in the game. Patel was an asset for the Generals, throwing for 145 yards and both touchdowns.
Injuries and illness benched four of PM’s starters Friday evening, which allowed underclassmen and second-string seniors to get some playing time. That included Zack Mook, who played right guard and assisted the Blues in advancing the ball in their high-scoring game.
“I wouldn’t say we had a skeleton crew,” coach Brockenbrough said. “But we had freshmen stepping in Friday night who had never played varsity football.”
The Blues are back to winning after suffering a 41-15 loss to James River in Buchanan on Sept. 8.
Coach Brockenbrough said their strategy this fall is to play hard, offensive-focused games, and to effectively “control the box” on the defensive side. He said in a nondistrict game like this, it’s just as important for the team to win.
“We’re taking it one week at a time,” said Brockenbrough of their season goals.
PM has its open date this week. Looking ahead, the Blues will look to improve their record in a matchup against Fort Chiswell (2-1) in Max Meadows on Friday, Sept. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
