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From left are all-stars Jeremiah Jones and Philip Parks, both seniors at Marshall Academy.

Jones, Parks play key roles in all-star win

The all-star game experience for a couple of Marshall Academy football players and their head coach was a winning one.

The Blue Team rallied from behind to knock off the White Team 23-17 in the Midsouth Association of Independent School Class 1A-2A-3A game Friday, Dec. 6.

“I was pleased with our team’s effort,” head coach Barrett Donahoe said. “It was a very physical football game with a lot of really good athletes. Both teams came out and decided to compete in an all-star game, and it was fun.”

His two Patriots, Jeremiah Jones and Philip Parks, played a huge role in the Blue Team’s victory.

Jones was eight of 15 passing for 144 yards and two touchdowns. One of those was a game-winning, 24-yard toss to Owen Bartlett of Marvell Academy with about three and a half minutes remaining in the game.

“We ran a fade route to the back of the end zone,” Donahoe said. “Jeremiah (Jones) put the ball where it needed to be, and then Owen (Bartlett) made a great catch.”

The Blue Team was down 17-7 at one point in the first half.

MA’s Philip Parks reeled off a 60-yard touchdown run with about two minutes left in the first half to slice the deficit to 17-14.

The teams then went back and forth without points until the Jones to Bartlett connection put the Blue up 21-17, and the Blue added a safety with under a minute left.

Parks was the Blue Team’s leading rusher.

Donahoe coached the defense for the Blue Team, and Junior Graham of Winona Christian the offense.

“It was a good all-around effort by our guys,” Donahoe said. “Defensively, we only gave up 160 yards total, and just 18 through the air.”

One of the White team’s touchdowns in the first half came on an interception return. And another was set up by a Blue Team turnover, giving the White Team a short field.

Holly Springs South Reporter

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