The Riverton Parke Panthers will head out to challenge the Parke Heritage Wolves at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Riverton Parke knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 31 points or more in their past seven matchups -- so hopefully Parke Heritage likes a good challenge.
On Friday, Riverton Parke took their game with ease, bagging a 59-6 victory over Attica. Fans of the Panthers have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 20+ points.
Riverton Parke got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Vickter Shoopman out in front who rushed for 83 yards and a pair of TDs. Shoopman got the majority of those rushing yards when he took off on a run that went for an incredible 50 yards. Noah Pope was in the mix as well, providing Riverton Parke with two touchdowns.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Riverton Parke was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 367 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 203 rushing yards in 17 consecutive contests dating back to last season.
Riverton Parke didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Jackson While, Zander Delp, and Kane Llewellyn picked up one apiece. Riverton Parke received some extra help from Ezekiel Golay, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Parke Heritage). They were the clear victors by a 46-20 margin over North Vermillion on Friday. The matchup was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 46-6.
Parke Heritage found their leader in sophomore Sawyer Monik, who threw for 105 yards and two TDs while completing 78.6% of his passes, and also punched in two rushing scores. Justin Cooper was Monik's top target, picking up eight receiving yards.
Riverton Parke's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 7-0. Those home wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 50.3 points over those games. As for Parke Heritage, their record now sits at 5-2.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Riverton Parke has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 398.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Parke Heritage struggles in that department as they've been averaging 203.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Riverton Parke against Parke Heritage when the teams last played back in October of 2024, as the team secured a 70-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
