Byrd downs previously unbeaten Parkway, 39-14

BOSSIER CITY – Byrd had lost two straight games leading into their tough road test Friday night against unbeaten Parkway.

It seems the challenge was just what the Yellow Jackets needed to put their season back on track.

After falling behind early, Byrd downed Parkway 39-14 at Preston Crownover Stadium.

The host Panthers appeared to have early momentum thanks to a 48-yard scoring pass from Ashton Martin to Trenton Lape to make 7-0 less than three minutes into the contest.

Byrd responded with 32 unanswered points.

The Jackets tied it up on a 26-yard run from Lake Lambert with 6:10 to go in opening quarter and took the lead for good on a 17 yard run from Josh Allen.

A 36-yard field from Abram Murray made it 17-7 with 9:42 remaining in the half before the Byrd advantage stretched to 19-7 on a safety when a bad snap in punt formation by Parkway went through the end zone.

Lake Lambert’s 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter added to Byrd’s lead while the defense continued to shut down the Panthers. Josh Allen scored on a seven-yard run with 9:11 to go in the game to ice it.

Parkway (6-1) finally found paydirt again with a 21 yard pass from Martin to Lape with 7:04 remaining but Devon Strickland’s three-yard score capped an important bounce-back effort by the Jackets.

“It was a big win tonight over unbeaten Parkway and that we broke our two game losing streak,” said Byrd Head Coach Stacy Ballew. “The kids played great.”

Lambert who was 5 of 8 for 76 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. Allen ran for 60 yards with two more Byrd scores on the ground.

“It was great week of practice and we are more confident as a team,” Lambert said.

Isaiah Ford led the Purple Swarm defense with one sack and two tackles for loss.

Byrd (5-2) will host Airline on Thursday while Parkway will play Natchitoches Central on Friday.