JONATHAN SELLERS

Pike County scored early, scored often and found several ways to do so Friday night in a 42-7 thrashing of Wicksburg.

The Bulldogs (2-0, 1-0 3A Region 2) ran for 291 yards on 40 carries and added another 48 yards in the air.

However, it was the Pike County defense that had head coach Eddie Stephenson thrilled after the victory.

“Defensively, I’m very excited about their improvement,” Stephenson, said whose defense held the Panthers to 150 total yards in the game and also added two fumble recoveries for scores.

“Right out of the gate they were tempo-setters, and I couldn’t be more happy with their effort.”

It was the Pike County offense that got the scoring underway.

On the first drive of the game, the Bulldogs’ Marquavous Knox carried the load going 62 yards on five carries including a touchdown scamper from three yards out.

Knox finished the game with 10 carries for 70 yards.

Early in the second quarter, Pike County got on the board again with senior quarterback Josh Parker capping off the drive.

Parker carried the ball from a yard out into the endzone for the score and a 14-0 lead.

Parker would add to the Bulldogs lead later in the second quarter, this time through the air.

On a fourth down play, Parker lofted a ball just out of the reach of a Wicksburg defender and into the hands of Jerrelle Bailey for a 28-yard score and a 20-0 lead.

The Bulldogs’ hopes of a shutout ended late in the first half.

After a bobbled field goal snap by Wicksburg, the Panthers’ Kyle Sullivan scooped up the ball and found Lake Genard in the end one for a touchdown.

But that is all the Panthers would get as Pike County kept it going in the second half.

On a third down and long, Parker weaved his way through the Panther defense from 16 yards out for his second score of the game.

The run was keyed by the Bulldogs’ offensive line, which Stephenson was hoping to improve on tonight.

“We wanted to come out tonight and run the football, and I was real proud of the way our offensive line was able to take control of the game,” Stephenson said.

The Bulldogs would add two late scores to seal the game, both coming on fumbles scooped up by the Pike County defense.

The first was a 35-yard return by Spencer Bright to make the score 35-7.

Jacquez Walker finished off the scoring with a 33-yard fumble return late in the fourth quarter.

“We’re still making some mistakes we need to correct, but it was good to get some young players some reps out there” Stephenson said.

Wicksburg leading rusher was Tyler Dawkins who carried the ball 4 times for 28 yards.

Michael Holley added 27 yards on the ground for the Panthers.

Pike County will take on Headland next Friday at 7 p.m. at Bulldog stadium.