Last Friday night’s clash at Parkland School District Stadium set up to be a high-scoring affair between the undefeated Liberty and Parkland football teams. The Trojans were averaging 47 points through their first two games, and the Hurricanes had a 35-point average a game after two contests.

But that was far from the case.

In a game that featured no points in the second half, Liberty scored two touchdowns during the first two quarters and held the Parkland offense to just two field goals over that same span. When the final horn sounded, it was the Hurricanes for the second year in a row that got the better of the Trojans, this time 14-6.

“I told them it’s just one football game,” said Parkland head coach Tim Moncman. “They realize that you get ranked number 1 for this and that, and it’s based on 2015. It’s not based on 2016. So, life lesson. This league’s very balanced. It’s a slugfest every week.

“You’ve got to play a complete game. We’ll work harder as coaches and harder as players, and get back after it next week.”

The Trojans worked hard on both sides of the ball last Friday night, but while the defense was strong for a better part of the game, the offense struggled at times to put the ball into the endzone.

“It’s just a matter of concentrating and focus,” said Moncman. “We’ll work on it.”

After struggling for times against Nazareth in week two, Parkland squared up against a Liberty team riding some momentum. The Hurricanes (3-0) were coming off a 28-21 win over Easton.

“If you would have told me that we had one first down in the second half and we just beat Parkland, I don’t know what my answer would have been,” said Liberty head coach John Truby. “Just from past experience, our guys didn’t quit. They just kept believing even in those spots that we were put in.”

Parkland received the ball first, and actually scored first. The Trojans drove the ball down the field and had an almost six-minute drive that was stalled at the 7-yard line. After a Brian Hanton 24-yard field goal, Liberty took the lead for good on their ensuing possession.

Nasir Legree capped a 61-yard drive with a 9-yard rushing touchdown to put the Hurricanes up 7-3 late in the first quarter.

The Trojans didn’t help themselves when they muffed a punt in the second quarter, giving the ball back to Liberty. Sophomore quarterback Todd Erney made Parkland pay with a 12-yard pass to Jayden Figueroa on fourth down.

Parkland forced four three-and-outs and had an interception during the second half on defense. But even with all of those opportunities given to their offense, Liberty held firm, and didn’t allow any leeway. The pass rush of Jaohne Duggan and Jay McGill forced Parkland’s offense into bad situations most of the evening.

“We have to be able to throw the ball better, and do a lot better job in the red zone,” Moncman said. “Those are some things we need to work on if we’re going to be successful.”

Parkland running back Nick Suriel rushed for a game-high 131 yards against Liberty, and senior wide receiver Zach Bross caught six balls for 42 yards.

The Trojans will have a short time to turn things around, as Easton awaits Friday night at Cottingham Stadium. Easton (2-1) beat Freedom (2-1) last Friday 27-20.