4th quarter, Patriots down by one touchdown, hand off to Jones…and touchdown! 

Parkway South’s JV football team won against the Mehlville Panthers on Oct. 24 with a score of 28-12. 

The Patriots ended their season with a 2-2 record.

After a freshman season finishing 1-3, these young Patriots have a bright future ahead of them, according to Coach John Barnabee. Adding freshmen to the JV squad helped them exceed expectations, according to running back Jalen Jones.

“Yeah I think they definitely made an impact to our season,” Jones said. “Having more bodies and knowing that we have a strong team gives us confidence in games.” 

Not only did the team get new playmakers, they also got new playcallers. Coach Jordan Noyes and Barnabee are the two new JV coaches who joined the team this season. 

“One thing I love about coaching the lower level is that it’s a lot about the love for the game and just getting better at a game they love to play,” Barnabee said.“I think the main focus here is getting them an understanding and knowing how we execute on the field so that we can prepare them for Friday nights.”

Free safety Jeremiah McAfee said he feels that he has improved a lot from last season. 

“I definitely see more improvement from me,” McAfee said.“I feel more confident in plays, tackling, and overall being out on the field.¨ 

Freshman Brennan Jones has been a massive part of this team, according to McAfee. Brennan plays both offense and defense. 

“It does get tiring sometimes, but I enjoy playing both sides,” Brennan Jones said. “The adrenaline rush is so surreal, hopefully, I can carry what I’ve learned this year to the next level.”

The next steps for these young Patriots is to learn from this season and get ready for the off-season as they will be the ones marching down the field on Friday Night Lights, According to Senior Cameron Harris. 

“This is where it all starts. I’m excited for the future of this team now it’s where the work really pays off, the off-season,” Barnabee said.