By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
MOORESVILLE ó K.P. Parks continues to carve out a place among the state’s record-holding runners.
Parks gained 225 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns as West Rowan rolled to a 48-9 victory at Mooresville on Friday.
B.J. Sherrill threw three TD passes, including two to Jon Crucitti, to help the Falcons (5-0) strike a balance on a special night. With his 44th career 100-yard game, Parks tied the state record established by former Maiden star Tommy Henry in 2006.
“It means a lot, but to be honest, I really wasn’t worried about that,” said Parks, who sat out the fourth quarter. “Most of all, I was worried about the win.
“It says my O-line’s been coming to play. It says our wide receivers are doing their job coming out blocking. It says a lot for the program.”
West’s fumble of the opening kickoff set up a field goal for Mooresville (0-4), and the Falcons (5-0) needed six offensive plays to score two touchdowns.
Parks eclipsed 1,000 yards for the season on a second-quarter carry in which he spun away from a defender at the Mooresville 13 and pulled another Blue Devil to the 5.
He scored on the next play, and West took a 27-3 lead thanks to Eric Cowan’s 36-yard return of an intercepted screen pass.
Parks joined Henry in elite company on West’s next possession. With two-plus minutes left in the half and 94 yards to his credit, Parks gained 25 on a run off right tackle.
“It’s a testament to the program and duration,” West coach Scott Young said. “To get a record like that, you have to have a great four years.”
Parks has reached the 100-yard mark in 44 of 46 career games ó the exceptions were a 72-yard outing in a playoff loss to Anson County as a freshman and a 92-yard effort on an injured ankle during West’s third-round playoff victory against Carver last season.
Parks has surpassed 200 yards in 16 of 33 appearances dating back to the start of his sophomore year.
“I’m so proud of him,” said defensive end Chris Smith, who had one sack and combined with Eli Goodson on two others. “He’s been the heartbeat of our program.”
The Falcons actually turned to their passing game to erase the early deficit.
Sherrill capped West’s first official possession by firing a 44-yard play-action pass to Crucitti, a former Mooresville player competing on the Blue Devils’ turf field for the first time since transferring to West last year. The second play of the Falcons’ next series resulted in a 27-yard TD reception by KaJuan Phillips.
“They stacked the box to stop K.P., and that left them with four-on-four any time we gave them a four-receiver set,” Young said. “It’s not exactly what we planned for, but as soon as we saw that, we did what we had to do.”
Sherrill went 7-of-7 passing for 130 yards in the first half, with Crucitti amassing 90 yards on five catches.
Sherrill finished with 166 passing yards and Crucitti wound up with six receptions for 126 yards thanks to a third-quarter touchdown.
“It’s a great way to go my last game playing on the turf,” Crucitti said. “It’s great to have a good game not only for the West Rowan fans but also for my friends from Mooresville.”
n
NOTES: Maxx Gore and Maurice Warren also recorded sacks for West. Kendall Hosch had the team’s other interception. … West Virginia University’s marching band performed at halftime. The band, traveling to Alabama for the Mountaineers’ evening game at Auburn, planned to stay overnight in Atlanta. … West rushed for 312 yards against the Blue Devils. “They execute well,” Mooresville coach Steve McCurry said. “They run the ball well and throw it well.”