Parkland Shuts Out Pleasant Valley to Win District Title

Parkland Trojans defeated Pleasant Valley 37-0 Friday night, capturing the District 11 Class AAAA title. 

It's the team's third district title since 2002.

After a shaky 0-2 start to the season (with losses to Delaware Valley and Easton), it looked like it might be a dismal season for Jim Morgans and his Parkland High School football squad.

But instead of accepting what might have been a disappointing year, the kids came through and wound up being described as the Valley's most "potent" football team, turning around and culminating the district season with 10 consecutive wins, including the drubbing of visiting Pleasant Valley at the district's Orefield stadium.

From the beginning Friday, it was all Parkland, as Pleasant Valley found themselves facing a quicker, stronger, powerful Trojans squad that hasn't experienced a loss since the second week of the season.

The Bears just couldn't match up with the likes of running back Jarel Elder and scrambling quarterback Tim Baranek. And there were other standouts as well: lineman Xavier Roden, who some fans were overheard saying he played his best game of the year, and hard-hitting linebackers Zach Gurinowich, Tanner Stengel and Naze Haddad. In the end, they were all stars, each in his own right.

But the team can't rest on its laurels just yet. Next week, Parkland finds itself in a rematch against Delaware Valley as the team tries to take another step closer to a state championship. Game time is 7 p.m. Friday in Orefield.