If you told head coach Jim Morgans that Easton running back Shane Simpson, who ran for 277 yards and six touchdowns in Week 6 against Whitehall, would be held to just 37 rushing yards and no scores into the fourth quarter against Parkland last week, Morgans would have been one happy guy.

But in football, it only takes one play.

After a deflating turnover while driving in Red Rover territory, all the momentum shifted toward Easton. Simpson received a toss on the ensuing play, and raced down the sideline 86 yards for a score as the Red Rovers remained undefeated and took down the Trojans 28-21 last Friday night at Parkland School District Stadium.

"Our defense played an exceptional game," said Morgans. "They kept us in it and for most of the game kept [Simpson] in check."

It looked as if Easton was going to run away with this one early, leading 21-7 at halftime and forcing some ill-timed turnovers from Parkland.

Roman Boell came up with a blocked punt late in the second quarter that was recovered in the end zone by Nathan Moser for a Red Rover touchdown. Easton also forced four Parkland turnovers on the night.

"You can't turn the ball over and have dumb penalties like we had," said Morgans. "You can't do it and win games. Easton is too good of a team."

But then in the second half, the Trojans showed some life. Their defense held Easton (7-0 overall, 5-0 EPC South) in check on its first four possessions.

Parkland (5-2 overall, 3-2 EPC South) inched closer on a 21-yard pass from Devante Cross to Kenny Yeboah to bring the score to 21-14.

On the Red Rover's next possession, they tried a fake punt on fourth down, but it was stuffed. All the momentum swung back in favor of Parkland, until the fumble and Simpson's touchdown took the life out of the Trojans.

"It was a missed assignment," said Morgans on the fumble. "He could have scored, but we missed a block and got hit pretty hard. It's not always on one person. Football is a team game."

Cross threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns, but the running game just never got going. The Trojans rushed for 47 yards on 17 carries.

Parkland will now travel to Bethlehem to play another undefeated team in Freedom on Friday night.