OVERLAND PARK — Playing under a Saturday sun rather than Friday night lights, the Parsons Vikings fell to 1-2 with a 52-6 loss to Christ Prep Academy at Blue Valley Northwest High School.
“We shot ourselves in the foot early with a couple of critical turnovers in our own territory. Anytime you do that, you’ll be digging out of a hole the entire game,” Parsons head coach Jeff Schibi said. “It was all self-inflicted. We weren’t ready to play and I take full responsibility for that.”
Playing a non-KSHSAA member opponent, Parsons didn’t register a score until the fourth quarter.
Chandler Hentzen led the Vikings on the ground with 85 yards on 14 carries, including a 53-yard touchdown run.
“There’s a few guys I never have to worry about coming with the right mindset and Chandler is one of them,” Schibi said. “I get the best out of him every single snap. He’s playing like an allstate football player. He’s our leader and we’ll continue to ride him.”
Christ Prep led, 21-0, at the end of the first quarter and 35-0 at halftime.
“Anytime you lose like that, it hurts. I told the kids that it’s OK,” Schibi said. “But we need to flush it down the toilet and get ready for Baxter Springs. That’s our first district game, so the energy will be high. We’re excited to get back to work.”
The Vikings lost in similar fashion to Christ Prep last year at Marvel Park. Schibi indicated that Parsons won’t play the school next year, when the two-year schedule cycle renews.
“It won’t be a philosophy change. We just had no other options rather than taking a bye week,” Schibi said. “We didn’t know much about them and we were certainly outmatched.”
Up next
Parsons begins district play in Week 4 at home against Baxter Springs. The Vikings have won eight games in a row against the Lions.
