The Parkland offense was sputtering. It was doing just enough to get by. Only leading 14-0 midway through the third quarter, with Central Catholic moving the ball and threatening to get on the board, the defense once again made a stop.

On the ensuing punt, senior Jarey Elder had the ball in his hands, and wanted to make a play to spark his team. He did just that.

His electric 48-yard return put the Trojans (3-0) up three scores and fired up the squad.

"We always feel like we have to come out and do something in the second half," Elder said. "Even in the past, we've always known we're a second half team and we take it to teams in the second half. My coaches were just saying to take matters into your own hands. I got a chance to return the punt, and the blocking was perfect. There was nowhere else to go but the endzone."

Parkland owned a 35-point lead before Central Catholic struck for a touchdown with 7:09 to play Saturday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium. That score kept the Trojans from posting a second straight shutout, but it didn't diminish their defense's continued excellence in a 35-7 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Division win.

The Trojans limited the Vikings (1-2, 0-2) to 162 yards of offense until allowing a two-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Those two plays, including a 75-yard touchdown pass from Mason Kholi to Dallas Kassis, came against Parkland's second-team defense.

The emphasis in this one was to slow down Kholi.

"We really have to give some credit to our linebackers and defensive line who were in the backfield all night," said Elder. "Our job in the secondary became so much easier when he (Kholi) was under pressure."

Amir Wallace had a big hand in disrupting the Central Catholic offense all night. The senior recorded three sacks and seemingly every time Kholi dropped back, he was running for his life from Wallace.

Parkland enjoyed another strong night on the ground, totaling 294 yards. Unique Divine rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown to pace the Trojans.

Preston Saylor added 58 yards and a score, and quarterback Devonte Cross chipped in with 46 rushing yards and a touchdown. Cross also threw for 90 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown strike to Kenny Yeboah.

The Trojans will host a new southern division foe in Pocono Mountain West on Friday night.