Passing Fancy: Parish Looks for Balance With Stone
Despite finishing with a losing record in 2017, Parish Episcopal carries plenty of momentum into this season.
Just five seniors graduated from a squad that played much better in October and November, even winning a postseason game and competing well in arguably the state’s toughest private-school district.
(ABOVE: Preston Stone threw for 27 touchdowns and ran for a team-high six scores as a freshman last season. Photo: Rob Graham)
With so many starters returning, the second season for head coach Daniel Novakov should benefit from greater experience and continuity — even though the schedule is as tough as ever.
“We’re not breaking in a whole bunch of new starters and teaching them the system,” Novakov said. “We’re much further along this year than we were last year.”
Sophomore quarterback Preston Stone already has scholarship offers from dozens of major college programs after a freshman year in which he threw for almost 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Stone will again be the focal point of a high-powered offense that Novakov hopes will be more balanced. Top returnees Logan Rayburn, Tyler Hamilton, Luke Bridges, and Parker Stone will be joined by Allen transfers Cameron and Kahlil Overton to give the signal-caller plenty of targets.
Four offensive linemen also are back, and running back Darries Boyd will be joined by two transfers — Cauren Lynch from Irving MacArthur and Christian Benson from Greenhill.
With several two-way players, the Parish defense should be bigger and deeper. Seven returning defensive starters — including Ricky Figurell, Jalen North, and Gordie Geymuller — will be joined by top transfers Myles Jones (St. Mark’s), Noah Richards (Plano East), and Caleb Holt (Frisco Heritage).
