Parkland might have entered the District 11 Class 6A football playoffs as the No. 3 seed. But the four-time defending district champs were among the favorites to get back to the title game, despite the three regular season losses on their record.

The Trojans rolled through two playoff games, including last Friday’s 42-7 win over Easton that allowed them to advance to this week’s district title game.

The Trojans used their running game early then went to the passing game to finish off the No. 7 seed Red Rovers (6-6).

“Our game plan was to pound the ball and then once they got everyone in the box we would open them up with the passing game,” said Parkland quarterback Michael Ruisch. “It set us up nicely throughout the game.”

Led by an offensive line that’s getting better each week, Parkland pounded its way to the game’s first score.

Nick Suriel carried the ball on all 10 plays of the Trojans’ first possession, going 75 yards in total and capping the drive with a 2-yard touchdown with 5:40 left in the first quarter.

One possession later, Ruisch hit Conner Bernecker for a 56-yard touchdown reception that opened the lead to 14-0.

“As long as we can do that and have the run game and pass game going it helps us out a ton because people are packing the box,” said Parkland head coach Tim Moncman.

Easton responded with its only score of the game, a 46-yard run by Harold Reynolds in the final two minutes of the second quarter.

After the teams traded punts, Parkland seized momentum heading into halftime.

The Trojans had a third and goal at the Easton 1-yard line with five seconds left in the second quarter and one time out remaining. They handed off to Jahan Worth, who burst into the end zone to give his team a 21-7 lead heading into intermission.

“We had one time out left but as we told them in the huddle, it was the play we ran against Emmaus,” said Moncman, referring to a play three weeks ago where the Hornets stopped Worth to seal a win and the division title. “I told Jahan no dancing, just put the head down.

“Our offensive line does a heck of a job. They just come off the ball. We wanted to punch that in because we knew we were getting the ball in the second half.”

With momentum on its side, Parkland came out in the third quarter and scored on its first three possessions.

On the first possession after halftime, Suriel ran in from two yards out to up the lead to 28-7.

Ruisch capped a three-play drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Juan Salas with 4:54 left in the third quarter to make the score 35-7.

A 25-yard touchdown pass from Ruisch to Zach Bross made it 42-7 just seven seconds into the fourth quarter and got the mercy rule clock moving.

Ruisch completed 10 passes for 183 yards and three scores.

“This is definitely my best game so far,” said the junior signal caller who is in his first year as starter. “It feels great to be getting better at the right point in the season. My confidence has just been building throughout the year.”

Salas caught seven passes for 105 yards, while running backs Suriel (88 yards) and Worth (73 yards) combined for 161 of the Trojans’ 246 rushing yards in the game.

Parkland will face the hottest team in the Lehigh Valley when it meets No. 5 seed Freedom this Friday at J. Birney Crum Stadium.