Myers Park wins third straight game, blows out Palisades on the road
An 0-3 start to the season is starting to be a very distant memory for the Myers Park High football team after the Mustangs won their South Meck 4A Conference opener 44-0 on Friday night at Palisades.
It was the Mustangs’ third straight win and evens their record at 3-3 under first-year head coach Chris Jones.
“I’ve some resilient kids here who have been through lot,” said Jones, Myers Park’s fifth head coach in the past five seasons. “I’ve been here three years so there’s some consistency.”
The Mustangs scored on Wendell Thompson touchdown passes on their first two offensive possessions then used a suffocating defense and a steady offense to cruise to the win to ruin second-year Palisades’ homecoming festivities.
Thompson directed four straight scoring drives to open the second half - including one on Thompson’s 12-yard quarterback draw - to put the game away.
He finished with 122 yards passing and three touchdowns and 45 yards rushing with one touchdown while directing a 303-yard offensive attack.
“Credit our offensive line for a lot of what we were able to do,” Jones said. “They played their butts off in the second half when tried to establish a running game more.”
Palisades’ best scoring opportunity came early in the second quarter when Fadayeen Turner’s 60-yard run gave the Pumas a first down at the Myers Park 26. But the Mustangs defense pushed Palisades backwards and took over on downs four plays later.
“Palisades is going to be a great program,” Jones said of his opponent. “Coach (Jonathan) Simmons is doing a great job and they’ve got some talented players and they’re getting better and better.”
Three Who Made a Difference
Myers Park QB Wendell Thompson: Guided a 303-yard offensive attack, completed 14 of 20 passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns and rushed seven times for 45 yards and another touchdown.
Myers Park DL Rodney Dunham: The 6-foot-5, 210-pound sophomore has received offers from East Carolina and Charlotte and received recent interest from Duke. He showed his athleticism with a pass interception and 14-yard return in the second half.
Palisades LB Kendric Davis: Had a game-high nine solo or first-hit tackles for the Pumas.
Worth Mentioning
▪ Myers Park’s offensive balance was extraordinary with R.J. Alexander rushing 13 times for 79 yards and one touchdown, Josh Falazarano rushing 14 times for 61 yards and one touchdown and receiving Brody Keefe caught five passes for 82 yards and one touchdown.
What’s Next?
Myers Park if off next week before hosting Ardrey Kell for homecoming on Oct. 6; Palisades is at South Mecklenburg next Friday.
Scoring Summary
Myers Park 14 2 14 14 - 44
Palisades 0 0 0 0 - 0
MP - Miles Baucom 4 pass from Wendell Thompson (Hank Thompson kick)
MP - Brody Keefe 35 pass from W. Thompson (H. Thompson kick)
MP - Safety, Jack DeHart tackles Palisades ballcarrier in end zone
MP - R.J. Alexander 7 run (H. Thompson kick)
MP - W. Thompson 12 run (H. Thompson kick)
MP - Jahari McDonald 9 pass from W. Thompson (H. Thompson kick)
MP - Josh Falzarano 4 run (H. Thompson kick)
