BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Despite a low-scoring beginning to the contest, Parkland’s special teams helped the Trojans pull-off a 35-7 convincing win over Liberty on Friday night in an EPC football game at BASD Stadium. Parkland led just 7-0 after the first quarter, but blocked two punts and converted them into touchdowns to help secure the road victory.
In addition to the special teams unit shining, Parkland’s defense also shared some of the spotlight on Friday night. Not only did the team hold the Hurricanes to just seven points, but the defense also snagged a fumble recovery and intercepted a Liberty pass, just in the first quarter, to stop two Liberty drives.
Then the third phase of the game got the scoring started late in the opening quarter. To cap off a drive, Parkland’s Isiah Rico punched it in through a pile of players from two yards out. The Trojans took the 7-0 lead with 1:39 left.
That lead did not last long, however, as the Hurricanes responded with 9:23 left in the first half with a two-yard rushing score of their own. John Vazquez took the rock to the endzone for Liberty.
Parkland’s passing game netted the next score for the Trojans with just 1:55 remaining in the second period. Ty Tremba hit John Siggins for a 10-yard pass in traffic. That gave Parkland the 14-7 advantage at the half, and started the stretch of 28 unanswered points for Parkland for the rest of the game.
Rico found paydirt again in the second half to start the scoring for the Trojans in the third quarter, this one a 15-yard scamper for the score, which made it 21-7 midway through the third quarter.
Then in the final three minutes of the third quarter, Parkland blocked back-to-back Liberty punts deep in their own territory and returned them for touchdowns. The first, which rolled into the endzone, was picked up by Parkland’s Sean Cox to make it 28-7.
Following the win, Parkland hosts Nazareth next week and Liberty visits Emmaus looking to bounce back.
