Parke Heritage looks to overcome injuries, North Central in opening round of sectional play

For the second season in a row, the Parke Heritage football team was rolling heading into the final third of the regular season.

Dan Rector's team was 5-2 again and coming off a huge win over rival North Vermillion when an old opponent reared its ugly head and both Sawyer Monik and Kash Jeffries sustained injuries. 

"Through the first seven games, we were 5-2 and had remained mostly healthy. Losing our starting and backup quarterbacks in the same week was a tough blow. The biggest surprise for me in the regular season was the start of a trend of serious injuries that defined the last third of the season. We've had more injuries in the last three weeks than in the last three seasons combined I believe. That was definitely an unpleasant surprise," Rector told The Parke County Post. 

As a result, the Wolves closed out the regular season with back-to-back losses against Riverton Parke and Fountain Central and will bring a 5-4 record into Friday's Class A Sectional 47 opener against North Central (Farmersburg). The winner will face the winner of the Riverton Parke and North Vermillion game in the second week of sectional play. 

Despite the losses and injuries, Rector said he has seen plenty of bright spots from his team, especially the seniors. 

"I've really been pleased with how our seniors have played and led this year. Klayton Burgess has been a great player on both sides of the ball and showed a lot of toughness coming back from knee surgery. Mason Wilcox, Vinny Goldner, Leyton McMullen, Karter Vanderheyden, Blake Ledcke, Logan Johnson, Braxton Bambert and Elijah Burk are our other seniors. I can't emphasize how proud I am of all of them. Most of those guys played all four years, so to see the growth they have made as young men has been even more special than seeing their improvements on the field," Rector admitted. 

Rector will look to get solid play out of his seniors again Friday when North Central (Farmersburg) brings a 5-4 record into Rockville. The Thunderbirds knocked off Eastern Greene, 45-6 to close out the regular season. 

"They have some good speed and really try to spread you out on offense.  The key for us will be to take away their run game and try to make them one-dimensional on offense.  On the other side of the ball, we have to be able to find ways to score and avoid turnovers, even with the players we have out and kids that are in different positions/roles.  So far, we have had a good week of practice," Rector said.