Class 3A Finals: Parkview comes back and wins 19-18

Final update
OK, so I found out after the game that Westlake's kicker broke his leg a week ago and was in a wheelchair for the finals. So, going for two so early makes sense...kind of.

I still say that you should A) have a backup kicker going into the finals and B) make darned sure you have a guy practicing kicking all week.

So say you send out this green kicker after your first score. He makes it, the game is tied at 7-7. If he misses, at least you tried and now know you have to go for 2 the rest of the way. Not giving your team a chance right off the bat seems iffy to me.

but then again, i'm not a coach. I just write about the game.

10:27 p.m.
Yup, that darned 2-point conversion really kind of bit Westlake in the rear end.

Parkview wins in come-from-behind fashion, taking a 19-18 lead in the fourth quarter to seal its first state championship since 2001.

10:24
Parkview quarterback Bryant Voth just ran for 13 on third-and-9 with fewer than two and a half minutes to play and the Eagles holding a tenuous one-point lead.

That's clutch, as the kids say. I don't say that. Just the kids.

10:19 p.m.
Fourth-and-9 for Westlake, down 19-18 with 3:30 to play. The Rams had to take a timeout. And the Rams don't get it as Brandon Ballou can't haul in a Trent Whitley pass at the 5.

I'll say this one more time, if not more. You're at the Parkview 19. Let's say you don't go for 2 at the beginning of the game. Now it's likely 21-21. You go for a field goal here, make it and it's 24-21.

Now, instead of Parkview being able to run out the clock, it has to drive down the field and try to at least get a field goal.

Just sayin'.

10:07 p.m.
I'm not exactly sure what happened, but someone reminded Parkview that it had a state championship to play for. The Eagles have awoken, and come on strong over the past 8-10 minutes.

They just took a 19-18 lead with 8:33 to play in the game.

And I have to say this: If Westlake doesn't go for that stupid 2-point conversion to begin the game, this one is potentially tied instead of the Rams being down by 1.

Sometimes coaching gets in the way of winning. That's truer in high schools than at any other level.

10:01 p.m.
If you think both teams came in with smoking hot offenses, think again. Check these third quarter stats out.

Parkview total offense 78 yards on 34 plays. Westlake total offense 102 yards on 35 plays.

Oh, and Parkview's Brennon Brignac just came up with an interception at the Westlake 42.

9:58 p.m.
And just like that, four seconds into the fourth quarter, Parkview scores on a quarterback keeper by Bryant Voth. The 2-point coversion failed, however, and it's now a 5-point game.

8 plays, 34 yards, 3:29 off the clock. With 11:56 to play, this one is not over. I apologive for jumping the gun.

9:55 p.m.
End of the third quarter: Westlake 18, Parkview 7

Just as I say Parkview has done nothing to show it can score offensively, it makes me eat my words. The Eagles are marching down the field on a nice little drive. If not for the end of the quarter, I'm pretty sure Parkview would already be in the end zone.

Don't turn your computers off just yet. This one could get interesting yet.

Note Update
23,827. That's not how many combined fumbles in the Curtis-St. James game. That's actually a first-day attendance at the Superdome. It's also a new record.

That's pretty impressive, I've got to say.

9:45 p.m.
Parkview, set to punt, snapped the ball ove rthe punter's head. Instead of falling on it in the end zone for a safety, the Eagles' punter tried to pick it up and run. Instead, he mishandled the ball and Westlake fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown.

Yep, that's pretty much how this game has gone for Parkview.

Somebody came into this game unprepared for primetime. It's not Westlake.

Westlake 18, Parkview 7

9:30 p.m.

Westlake just picked up a Parkview fumble at the Parkview 13. I said this earlier, I'll say it again. The Rams can put this game away right now. All they have to do is score. There's nothing Parkview has done that tells me it can score on offense again.

Here's a big one: Westlake scores a touchdown on a toss sweep, but is called for holding. Instead of being up 19-7, now it's second-and-23 from the 26.

Halftime
Westlake 12, Parkview 7

Westlake held on defense, and got the ball back. Still a five-point game as the second quarter winds down.

Parkview is self-destructing. It just fumbled the ball away to Westlake, which recovered the ball at the Parkview 45. There's 4:47 to go in the second, and this could get out of hand quickly if Parkview doesn't watch out.

Westlake just took the lead on a 25-yard TD pass. Trent Whitley passed to Brandon Ballou on a post route. Of course, now, because it missed the first point after on an odd decision, Westlake has to go for a 2-point conversion now. Whitley turned into Matt Flynn and threw an interception on the 2-point try.

Westlake 12, Parkview 7.

End of first quarter: Parkview Baptist 7, Westlake 6

The teams are now trading punts. The defenses have settled down. This one could be interesting throughout.

Westlake recovers a fumble inside Parkview territory when Westlake blows up an option play to the left. First and 19 Westlake at the Parkview 36.

Westlake uses a 74-yard kickoff return to get within one in the game. Vincent Collins took the sideline, then followed his blockers. HOWEVER, a 2-point conversion attempt - one I wouldn't have gone for - failed when the swinging gate pass from the center flew past the running back.

Parkview 7, Westlake 6 (6:41 to play in 1st Q)

Parkview just took a 7-0 lead, scoring on fourth-and-goal from the 1. Westlake put up an impressive effort on three straight plays inside the 3, but couldn't hold on fourth down.