Jasper Parker scores five touchdowns as Shaw wins Megaphone from Rummel

MARRERO – Sixteen years. Sixteen long years.

For the first time in 16 years, the Megaphone is coming back to the West Bank.

The Archbishop Shaw Eagles lit up the scoreboard to score a mega-win in the Battle for the Megaphone over rival Archbishop Rummel Raiders, 43-28.

“We said bring the ‘phone home,” said Shaw head coach Hank Tierney. “We played three good teams last season, but we didn’t beat any of them. We beat a good team tonight. The Eagles are back!”

After getting off to a slow start offensively with only 24 total points scored and less than 100 total passing yards in their first two games, the Eagles offense found their wings and took flight against the Raiders.

Shaw accumulated 522 yards of offense, led by junior running back Jasper Parker’s 20 carries for 171 yards and five touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Mason Wilson led the passing attack, completing 8 of 12 passing attempts for 208 yards, along with an additional 86 yards rushing as well.

“We knew we had a dominant offensive line and we just powered behind them all night long,” said Tierney on his team’s offensive explosion. “Jasper is such a great kid to coach and then Mason is a quarterback who is a glorified running back as well.”

For Rummel (1-2), an abundance of unfortunate injuries has tested their depth. Already down both starting guards and defensive back Darrius Davis, the Stanford University commit, the Raiders lost their starting center Nathan Lousteau to an apparent serious injury during pre-game warmups.

Even though they were plagued by injuries, the Raiders offense still came up with some big moments. Senior running back Jaidyn Martin finished with 145 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns. Junior running back Norman Taylor pitched in with an additional seven carries for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Right out of the gates, Shaw (1-2) set the tone with their offense. On their first from scrimmage, Wilson connected with junior wide receiver Gavin Richard on a 56-yard pass down to the Rummel 7-yard line. Three plays later, Parker tallied his first touchdown of the night on a one-yard run to give Shaw a 7-0 lead with 8:41 to play in the first quarter.

Rummel was able to match scores for awhile. Starting at their own 20-yard line, the Raiders marched down the field in 10 plays, tying the game up at 7-7 with 4:15 to play in the quarter on a 29-yard touchdown run by Taylor.

Shaw took the lead back early in the second quarter, thanks again to a big pass from Wilson. With the ball at their own 34-yard line, Wilson connected with senior tight end George Santor for a 55-yard pass down to the Raiders 11-yard line. Two plays later, Parker punched it from two yards outto make it 14-7 lead with 8:21 to play in the first half.

Again, Rummel would answer, this time in just two plays. Facing second and three from the 27-yard line, Martin exploded up the middle and bounced off multiple Shaw defenders en route to a 73-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 14.

Shaw went ahead for good via Parker’s third touchdown, an 18-yard rush with 3:09 to play before halftime that made it 20-14 after a missed point-after. A 25-yard Henry Zenaya field goal as time expired extended the Shaw lead to 23-14 at halftime.

The Eagles kept the pedal to metal in the second half, scoring on their first two possessions of the third quarter. First, a 10-yard touchdown run by Richard and a 25-yard runby Parker that gave the Eagles a 36-14 advantage with 5:48 to play in the third quarter.

Rummel wouldn’t go quietly though. The Raiders out together an 80-yard drive, scoring on Martin’s 25-yard touchdown run to draw back within two scores at 36-21 with 3:02 to play in the quarter.

After the Eagles defense forced a turnover on downs on their own 15-yard line, the offense steadily pounded the ball to midfield to setup Parker’s fifth and final touchdown, a 54-yard run to bring the Shaw lead to 43-21 with 3:56 to play.

The Raiders added a final touchdown on a four-yard pass by junior quarterback Evan Burg at the 3:16 mark but drew no closer.

Rummel will look to rebound next week as they begin Catholic League district play against undefeated Holy Cross. Shaw hosts the Bonnabel Bruins in a non-district contest.