Falcons Hand Parish First Loss of Season
In his first game at running back for Parish, Kaleb Culp rushed for 73 yards during Friday’s loss to Bishop Dunne. (Photo: Rob Graham)
By Michael Finnegan / Special Contributor
Bishop Dunne topped previously unbeaten Parish Episcopal 16-7 in the TAPPS district opener for both teams at Hayes Stadium on Friday.
In sloppy conditions, it was for hard for both teams to get much going on offense for much of the game.
The Falcons (4-3, 1-0) scored first with under a minute to go in the opening quarter when Jayden Hullaby took a jet sweep 73 yards to the end zone. Hullaby led all rushers with 122-yards and two touchdowns.
After struggling early in the rain, the Parish offense finally began to click on its opening possession of the second half.
Following a couple of good runs by Kaleb Culp, the Panthers (5-1, 0-1) scored on Preston Stone’s 56-yard touchdown pass to Kahlil Overton, his lone catch of the game. That put Parish on top 7-6 midway through the third quarter.
“I’m not blaming anything on the weather,” said Parish head coach Daniel Novakov. “It really didn’t alter our game plan.”
The Panthers were threatening again on their next possession but a fumble in the end zone ended a long drive and a chance to go up two scores. The Falcons capitalized on the turnover, and regained the lead 9-7 on Ryan Mortazavi’s 31-yard field goal with just over nine minute left in the game.
After forcing another Parish fumble, Hullaby put the game away on his second rushing touchdown, this one a 2-yard dive.
“We have talent everywhere on the field, but those two fumbles hurt us,” said Novakov, now in his third year at the helm for Parish. “This district is very good, and Bishop Dunne is very good.”
Overton’s twin brother, Cameron, led all receivers with three catches for 57 yards. Culp led the Panthers on the ground with 73 yards on 11 carries.
