Amarillo High routs Lubbock Coronado for key 2-5A Division I win

Amarillo High got out to an extremely fast start and never turned off the gas on the way to a big-time rout of District 2-5A Division I foe Lubbock Coronado 66-14 on Thursday night at Dick Bivins Stadium.

The Sandies (4-4) bounce back after suffering their first district loss last week at Lubbock-Cooper while putting themselves back in the league title picture at 3-1.

“In a district like this getting a win like we did puts us in a really good spot,” AHS head coach Chad Dunnam said. “This is a very competitive district and there isn’t one game you can take off. We love being 3-1 right now but we’re not satisfied, and we want to be in the fight for a district championship.”

AHS wasted no time getting on the board scoring on the opening play of the game when quarterback Will Flaming noticed a mistake in the Coronado (2-5, 1-2) secondary that led to finding a wide-open Oliver Parsons streaking all alone down the sideline for a 63-yard pitch and catch.

On the ensuing possession the Flaming to Parsons duo struck again with a 61-yard connection setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Eddy Mpela giving the Sandies a 14-0 lead not five minutes into the game.

The Mustangs were able to cut the deficit in half, but that didn’t last long after AHS put the game out of reach on back-to-back TDs on a Flaming five-yard keeper, and a Pius Vokes one-yard push that had AHS in control up 28-7. The Sandies kept that momentum heading into halftime leading 38-14.

“I’m proud of how we bounced back after last week,” Dunnam said. “We played a complete game in all aspects. With played with urgency and energy. We played together and when we do that we’re hard to beat.”

AHS ended the game showing its balance totaling 571 yards rushing for 223 yards and piling up 348 yards through the air.

Parsons absolutely torched the Coronado secondary throughout the night stamping a career outing snagging six catches for 241 yards with four touchdowns. Flaming played like the leader Dunnam knows he’s capable of going 14-of-19 for 345 yards with all four TD tosses going to Parsons, and on the ground, Pius Vokes scampered for 185 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns.

“Oliver is just a sophomore that’s only getting better for us,” Dunnam said. “He missed last week with an injury, but he is progressing, and I was proud of his effort. He was incredible. I thought Will played poised and managed the game extremely well. He noticed Coronado was lined up right on the first play of the game and made a check to Oliver for that touchdown. Will is showing his leadership by the week and he’s an inspiration to this team.”

The Sandie defense did their job by limiting the Mustang offense to 230 total yards with only 96 passing yards and forced three fumbles for turnovers.

Amarillo High will have a bye week coming before resuming district play against Abilene High on Oct. 27, at Shotwell Stadium.