Little Rock Parkview Coach Brad Bolding said the Patriots' 0-3 start was not a major concern for him.
There was a method to scheduling two Class 7A teams and one Class 6A before conference play began.
"I like to play a tough nonconference schedule to find out what it is that you are weak at and what you have to work on, and we were able to do that,'' Bolding said. "Playing those teams helped us going into the conference, and really we are starting to play good football at the right time."
In their regular-season finale at Little Rock Fair, the Patriots (5-5, 5-2 5A-Central) rolled to a 56-0 victory over the War Eagles (1-9, 0-7) in a game that was played with some of the field's lights not working.
The Patriots are in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
"It's a big deal for these kids,'' Bolding said. "It's an awesome deal. We're the third seed, and I think it is the best conference by far in the 5A. It gives us a shot. We're going to play someone good."
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The Patriots wasted little effort in starting the rout. Junior Thomas McCauley scored from the 15 to cap a four-play, 77-yard drive. Giovanny Revuelta, who was perfect on all eight extra-point kicks, made it 7-0.
After Marquel Alcorn recovered an onside kick, the Patriots overcame a sack, two holding penalties and a procedure call to cover 46 yards. Geary Allmon scored from the 5. S
Sophomore tight end Erin Outley grabbed a 13-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Landon Rogers for the next score as Parkview built a 21-0 cushion in the first quarter.
It was 42-0 at halftime as Allmon grabbed a 30-yard touchdown pass from Landon Rogers. McCauley then scored on a 16-yard run, and Rogers produced points on a 1-yard sneak.
In the second half, freshman James Jointer scored on runs of 37 and 1 yard.
"I thought we played good in the first half,'' Bolding said. "There are some things that we did offensive line wise that we have been trying to work through.
"We have got to really get better at that this next week going into the playoffs because everyone is good. I thought we executed our passing game, which we needed to do. We haven't been able to throw the ball real well this year, so we really tried to work that, and I thought they did a good job."
Sports on 11/02/2018