HS Football: Parker Mady leads Curtis to win over Rogers

9/28/2024

Curtis 32, Rogers 12

(Puyallup, WA) The Curtis Vikings came into the season with questions on who would step in to lead this offense with QB Rocco Koch graduating. The Vikings are using a 2 QB system with Freshman Sam Patterson and Sophomore Cooper Hordyk both getting chances to take snaps. The offensive leadership is clearly in the hands of Senior wide receiver Parker Mady along with Seniors Xavier Ahrens and Joey Costanti and it’s working just fine.

Head Coach Darren McKay said they knew it was going to be a work in progress on the offensive side but they would rely on those seniors to keep the train on the track. Meantime, it would be the Viking defense stepping up more than ever to keep Curtis in the game at all times.

Saturday night they traveled to Sparks Stadium to face a renewed Rogers Rams team that came in with the same non-league 2-1 record as the Viks. The Rams were 0-10 last year and have had a huge turn-around under 2nd year coach Shawn Yohn.

Rogers began with the ball and drove 60 yards to the Curtis 20 but fumbled and turned the ball over, stopping a promising opening drive. This would be a pattern for the Rams on this night.

On the Vikings 1st drive they were stalled at the 19 and tried a field goal that missed so after each team had the ball both threatened but neither could find the scoreboard.

The Rams were held to a 3 and out and a bad punt set up the Viks on the Ram 19. Freshman QB Sam Patterson would find Paker Mady on a 14 yard TD strike with less than a minute to go in the 1st the PAT was good for a 7-0 lead.

Rogers would begin to answer and take the next drive into the 2nd quarter and went on 10 plays to inside the 10 when the ball was stripped out and the Vikings defense recovered denying the Rams again. Curtis answered with a 9 play drive capped with a 27 yard TD pass from Patterson to Mady add the PAT and it was 14-0 with about 5 minutes to go in the half.

Following a good kick-off return Rogers was in business again at the 50 and this time they kept it on the ground with 6 runs and 1 pass and the big o-line with running back Josiah Taijeron doing the damage and surging into the endzone from the 4 yard line. The extra point was no good on the snap hold fumble but the Rams were in it trailing 14-6 with about 2:30 left to play in the half.

That would be enough time for the Vikings however, with a 4 play all passing drive capped off witth a spectacular pass from Patterson deep down the far side line in front of the Curtis fans to guess who? Yep, Mady again on the receiving end with a spectacular 50-yard catch. Ethan Bell hit the PAT and they would go to the half with a 21-6 lead.

As the 3rd quarter began they held the Vikings after a great return to the Rams 32. Rogers took over on their own 22 and turned on the run machine of Josiah Taijeron. The 11 play drive was 10 runs to the 1 pass and Taijeron with the offensive line opening holes drove down the field and punched it in with QB Rashard Boone finishing off the drive scrambling to his left and into the endzone. The 2 point play failed but it was a 21-12 game with about 5 minutes to go in the 3rd.

The Vikings answered on the next possession but were stopped short of the goal line and Ethan Bell booted home a 23 yard field goal to make it 24-12.

The Rams momentum though was stopped short with another fumble on the folowing drive and Curtis took over on the Rams 32. Viks RB Micah Yanos made them pay for the mistake taking it the 32 yards on 1st down for the score. They added a 2 point conversion and it was 32-12 with less than a minute to play in the 3rd.

The rest of the game was filled with mistakes on both side of the ball. The Rams would fumble again and throw a 2nd interception, the Vikings were picked off as well and neither team could finish a drive in the final 12 minutes with the 32-12 score holding up as the final.

Rogers certainly moved the ball well on a tough Viking defense totalling 363 total yards with Rashard Boone finishing 11 of 22 for 144 yards and 2 interceptions. The Rams ran the ball for 219 yards led by Josiah Taijeron with 31 carries for 161 yards and a TD. Boone added 11 carries for 51 yards and a TD.

For Curtis they finished with 469 yards with a well balanced attack of 175 rushing yards and 294 passing. Sam Patterson was 20 for 30 for 294 yards, 3 TD’s and a pick. Parker Mady caught 7 balls for 137 yards and 3 touchdowns. Xavier Ahrens hauled in 6 and also hit the century mark for 100 yards. Micah Yanos led the ground attack with 13 carries for 107 yards and a score.

Our Eli Sports Network dot com MVP went to Parker Mady for the Vikings. Curtis is now 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. They will host South Kitsap on Friday. Rogers drops to 2-2 and 0-1 in conference play and takes on Emerald Ridge next Friday as the away team.

Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (subsription required)

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