Defense, running game drive Parkway Central over Fort Zumwalt South in Class 5 District 3 semifinal

Parkway Central used four running backs to hammer on the Fort Zumwalt South defense and that action combined with the Colts relentless defense was more than enough to extract a 41-0 victory in a Class 5, District 3 semifinal Wednesday night at Parkway Central.

Augie Brooks, Jake Bushman, Michael Slater, and Khalen Saunders provided the offensive punch as Brooks and Bushman combined for over 200 yards rushing on the night.

“The offense was solid, I felt like the offensive line was really good tonight and the backs ran hard,” Parkway Central coach Mark Goldenberg said.

Slater got the Colts going on Central’s first possession deep in Zumwalt South territory off a snuffed out fake punt attempt that gave Central the ball at the Bulldog 28.

Five plays later, Slater scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 1-yard run making it 6-0.

On the Colts next drive, it was Brooks turn to find the send zone as he scored on 28-yard run which put the Bulldogs down 14-0 with 3:05 left in the first quarter.

Central’s defense and special teams also got in on the act scoring as well.

A blocked punt by the Colts defense was returned 29 yards by defensive lineman Quentin Gray to the house for a TD giving Central a 21-0 cushion.

“The defense and special teams scored a touchdown on a blocked punt, got a fumble and set up one more (touchdown) for us at the 20,” Goldenberg said. “It takes all three phases and we preach all three phases and I’m real proud of how they played tonight.”

Zumwalt South had only slight momentum going early in the opening half with a limited run game and some short passing from quarterback Brett Simon. But the Colts pass rush and stout run defense kept them out of the end zone.

“When they completed it, we were having guys fly to the ball and I think the pass rush was really good today too,” Goldenberg said.

Central scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns and Saunders finished out the Colts scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run with 7:38 left to go.

That left the Colts defense to in position to put the finishing touches on the shutout as Martino Hunter, Miles Dvorak, and Co. continued to dominate the line of scrimmage.

“We practiced hard all week and we were just ready for what they were going to do and our defense was just outstanding,” Hunter said. “We’ve been doing well all year and we just did real well tonight.”

Parkway Central (9-1) moves on to play Wentzville Holt Monday in a Class 5 District 3 title game at 7 p.m.

Fort Zumwalt South, which knocked off Fort Zumwalt North 22-21 in last week’s first round of district play, ended the season at 5-6.