High School Football: Parkview Looks to Regain Prominence

Increasingly, there's a sense of urgency swirling about Parkview High football.

In five seasons now, the Panthers have existed in obscurity, unable to get beyond the first round of the Class AAAAA playoffs. That's not typical for one of the state's most storied teams, a former powerhouse that won its four state championships in a six-year span from 1997-2002 and played for another title in '04.

Since going undefeated through its string of three consecutive championships from 2000-'02 and winning a 46th consecutive game to start '03, coach Cecil Flowe's Panthers nearly have dropped off the radar, except for quarterfinal showings in '03 and '05.

Challenge is, the Panthers remain young. Linebacker Patrick Flowe, the coach's son, and quarterback Jack Esmonde, are Parkview's only seniors with any experience.

"We've got a great bunch of kids, we're just young," Flowe said. "We certainly want to get back to being a competitive team, and the ingredients here are good, but we're going to have to work our way into it."

Success undoubtedly will require winning close games, something Parkview struggled to do at the start and end of last season, when it went 5-6 in only its second losing season since 1991. In last year's season opener against visiting Stephenson, the Panthers flubbed the potential winning field-goal snap in overtime and ultimately lost 21-14 on the Jaguars' quarterback sneak. Likewise, In the first round of the playoffs, Parkview lost 29-27 to Roswell on a 52-yard field goal as time expired, unable to cash in on 500 yards of offense and on holding Roswell to just 74 in the second half.

Between, the Panthers showed their grit by edging Central Gwinnett and Dacula by a touchdown, but lost to a second straight time to eventual Class AAAAA champion Brookwood by that same margin.

"We played a state championship football team close, down for down," Flowe said. "We were inside their 30 (yard line) probably three times but couldn't get the ball in the end zone."

Flowe realizes the emotional importance of beating Stephenson in Friday's 7:30 p.m. season opener at Clarkston's Hallford Stadium and taking a positive initial step toward a first Region 8-AAAAA championship since 2004. The Panthers haven't won a season opener since going 3-0 to start 2007 and could use confidence-building, non-region victories against Stephenson and Norcross, before beginning region play versus Shiloh.

"Playing well and not making mistakes in the first game is the biggest thing," Flowe said. "But you don't want to hang your hat too much on just that first game, though."

Leading the Panthers this season likely will be Patrick Flowe, a 6-foot-1, 208-pounder who last season had 104 tackles and five sacks. Key also will be guidance from Esmonde, whose 160 yards and two touchdowns passing helped the Panthers achieve 360 yards of offense in last week's 26-17 scrimmage victory at West Forsyth. Kenneth Micah Reid, a 5-11, 175-pound defensive back and receiver who transferred from Rockdale County, will lend needed speed.

Defensive end Bryce Goldsby (6-2, 220) is expected to contribute heavily as a fourth-year starter, as should tight end and defensive end Colby Smith, another fourth-year starter who has 44 career receptions. Look for offensive tackle Wyatt Hammond (6-6, 265) to have impact as a first-year starter, as well as Kyle Williams, who caught both scoring passes against West Forsyth.