Arlington- In a scenario similar to Aldous Huxley‘s 1932 novel “Brave New World”, the game between the Westside Wolverines and Terry Parker Braves featured two teams experiencing drastically modified changes over the last few years. On one side was the 7-1 Westside Wolverines led by head coach Rodney Dubose, whose team experienced a 1-9 record last year. In 2013, Coach Dubose was tasked with turning around a dwindling program that had not won more than five games in over a decade before his arrival.
On the other side were the 5-2 Terry Parker Braves and head coach Cha-ron Dorsey. Dorsey had taken over a Terry Parker program in 2018 that had not been to the playoffs in nearly two decades. After going 3-7 their first year, and also coming from the Duval County Middle School football ranks, Dorsey and his staff faced doubts and questions on whether they could be successful at the high school level. Those doubts and more would be answered Friday night when they hosted Westside for the 3-5A district title.
The District 3-5A title game started with defense as both teams made plays all over the field. Terry Parker’s special teams would recover a muffed punt putting the Braves in good field position. After a 3 and out for Parker and Westside in consecutive series, Parker would take over on the Westside 30-yard line. Westsides’s Angelo Philpot would force a Paker fumble and it was recovered by Westside’s Nalej Williams.
It wouldn’t take long for Westside to capitalize on the turnover, as quarterback D.J Otis hit Antwon McCrae for a 50 yard touchdown pass to put Westside up 7-0 in the first quarter.
As in most football games, the first score opens up the scoring for the opposing team, and Parker opened up the offense. JaJuan Turner reeled off a big run putting the Braves deep in Wolverine territory. Next, quarterback William Wyche hit wide receiver Tyrone Williams, who reached out and made an incredible one-handed catch for the 10-yard touchdown.The score was tied 7-7 in the first.
Terry Parker’s defense would step up next, as defensive back Darrell Bryant intercepted a pass and returned it deep into Wolverine territory. The turnover would be a signature of this game as both teams turned the ball over. However, Westside would eventually succumb to the excessive turnover bug.
In the second quarter, Parker dialed up a play to catch the aggressive Wolverine defense off guard. Quarterback Will Wyche rolled out and was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from Jajuan Turner. Parker would go up 13-7.
Turner would score again in the second quarter. After the Parker defense forced a fumble on a sack by Jerahmi Gordon. Turner would make them pay with a short touchdown run as the Braves increased their lead to 19-7 going into halftime.
In the second half, Parker would begin where they left off. Tabari Rollins was on the receiving end of a long catch and run to put the Braves deep in Wolverine territory. Next, Wyche would find Artix Maddox for a touchdown reception as Parker increased their lead to 26-7 in the 3rd.
Westside needed to make a furious comeback if they had any chance of becoming district champions and they began to do so expediently. Ahmari Mahan would lead the team down the field on a set of runs and would score from 8-yards out. After the two point conversion, Westside trailed Parker 26-15 in the 3rd.
After a big stop by Westside’s defense, the ball went back to their offense where they would capitalize on the gift. Otis would drop back and rocket a 62-yard touchdown pass to to Ernest Terry. All of a sudden, Westside trailed by only five points, 26-21 with 10:30 left in the 4th quarter.
The game would go back and forth in the fourth as both offenses could not navigate past the aggressive defenses. In the end, the aforementioned turnover bug bit Westside for the final time. First Parker’s Tyrone Williams intercepted a pass late in the fourth. Then Darrell Bryant would cement the victory for Parker with his second interception of the night. Terry Parker would go on to win 26-21, and win their first district championship since 2000.
Terry Parker (6-2) ends their regular season against Yulee (4-5), while Westside (7-2) hosts Dixie County (6-2) to end their season. Terry Parker will have an automatic bid to the playoffs, while Westside will most certainly want to win their last game to ensure their chances in the final post season rankings.
