By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
It’s not easy to live up to the hype K.P. Parks received prior to his senior season, but through four games ó three against stout opponents ó he’s proven worthy of every accolade.
Parks, who verbally committed to Virginia, has rushed 103 times for 922 yards and 13 TDs, including a solid 31-221-2 line in a rugged 14-7 win against Salisbury on Friday.
Salisbury did one heck of a job against him. He still got 221 yards. Maybe he’s underrated.
With the bulk of his senior year still ahead of him, Parks’ career numbers already stack up against the strongest in the state record book. The NCHSAA will have new entries to make when his career is over.
n Parks can equal the state record for career 100-yard games if he tops that modest milestone against Mooresville tomorrow night.
The record of 44 was set by Maiden’s Tommy Henry.
n Parks is closing fast on the state record for career carries of 1,132 set by Anthony Saunders.
Parks has 1,066.
n Parks has 112 career TDs. That’s fourth all-time. Former A.L. Brown sensation Nick Maddox is third with 114. Henry had 128. Albemarle’s T.A. McLendon, who played on the two highest-scoring teams in state history, put the ball in the end zone 178 times.
n Parks, who has three TDs receptions and one TD on a kick return in his career, is the fourth N.C. back to surpass 100 rushing TDs. With 108, he ranks third behind McLendon (170) and Henry (125).
n Parks now has 8,043 yards rushing for his career and is only the fourth back to reach the 8,000 plateau.
Parks trails only Ragsdale’s Toney Baker (10,241), McLendon (9,004) and Henry (8,595).
n Parks has scored 678 career points. Besides the 112 TDs, he’s scored three two-point conversions.
Parks passed Princeton’s Mike Atkinson for second all-time in scoring in the state Friday. Only McLendon (1,070 points) is ahead of Parks.