Parkview Baptist ground game overwhelms Lusher in 55-14 playoff win

BATON ROUGE – Much like the 2014 playoff matchup that pitted Lusher Charter at Parkview Baptist, the game was very close early on in the opening round of the Division II prep football playoffs. This time though, Parkview was able to pull away behind a strong rushing attack.

The fifth-seeded Eagles prevailed 55-14 over the 12^th-seed Lions in Baton Rouge Friday night in Baton Rouge.

The Eagles took the early lead on a three-yard touchdown run by Parker Kirby to go up 6-0. The Eagles would find no such luck on their next two drives as a game Lions defense recovered fumbles on both. The Lions could not turn those turnovers into points as the Eagles defense was stout from start to finish. Those missed opportunities would kill any chance of Lusher pulling the upset.

Lusher wasn’t able to get any rhythm going on offense in the first half and managed only two first downs. Parkview Baptist amassed over 200 yards rushing in the first half and had 18 first downs. The Eagles finished the game with over 300 yards rushing.

Parkview Baptist quarterback Alexander Aucoin added two rushing touchdowns and threw for a third score in the second quarter as the Eagles went into halftime with a commanding 27-0 lead.

Aucoin would get his third touchdown pass of the game on Parkview’s first play of the second half on a 54-yard pass to Terry Tolliver. Aucoin finished 7-of-11 for 144 yards and two touchdowns and 11 rushes for 68 yards and two scores.

Lusher  would find the end zone in the fourth quarter when a 53-yard pass on fourth down from Joshua Stiger to Evan Simons set up the Lions at the Parkview seven-yard line. Senior Ari Broussard punched it in from seven yards out on the next play. Broussard finished with 61 yards on nine carries and a touchdown on offense and 13 tackles, and a fumble recovery on defense in his final game. The Lions completed the scoring on a 32-yard touchdown run by Miles Stewart.

Lusher ended its season 4-7. Parkview Baptist (8-3) advances to play at fourth-seed and defending Division II state champion St. Thomas More next Friday night in the quarterfinals.