Bulldogs batter Castleford to secure spot in state semis

ROCKLAND — For most of the first half, Rockland’s Xavier Parrish looked more like a Roman gladiator than a modern quarterback.

Parrish sustained a nose injury early in the game and could not stop the bleeding until halftime, playing despite having his face, facemask and jersey covered in blood. But the Castleford defense couldn’t stop its own bleeding either, allowing Rockland to score touchdowns on eight of their 11 possessions en route to a 62-14 victory.

While trying to keep the blood from limiting his breathing or vision, the senior signal-caller led the No. 2 Bulldogs (10-0) over the No. 7 Castleford (8-2) Friday at Rockland High School, earning a semifinal showdown with No. 3 Carey (9-1).

After the game, Rockland’s first playoff victory since he was a freshman, Parrish talked about what the win meant to him and his fellow seniors, Zach Permann and Ty Woodworth.

“Feels good. It feels good,” he said. “And that was a close 62-14 game, I’ll tell you what.”

Rockland scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the game, with Parrish hitting freshman Luke Permann on scoring strikes of 20 then two yards, taking a 16-0 lead in the first quarter.

But Parrish was intercepted on a tipped pass inside the Castelford 5-yard line late in the second quarter as the Bulldogs looked to extend their lead. Two plays later, though, Luke, Zach’s younger brother, added to his game with an interception. The takeaway led to a 16-yard touchdown pass from Parrish to Zach.

Head coach Gerry Hunter joked after the game that the key to Rockland’s recent success has been cloaked in the Permann name.

“As long as I’ve got some Permann boys on the team, we’re pretty good,” he said. “And X struggled in the first quarter, but after that he was spot on.”

After another takeaway on Castleford’s first possession of the second half, the Bulldogs were right back in the end zone on a 22-yard pass from Parrish to sophomore Gage Steidley.

Rockland scored on five of its six possessions in the second half, with the only scoreless drive coming when the Bulldogs kneeled out the clock to end the game.

Statistically, Parrish led the way, completing 24 of 35 pass attempts for 323 yards and seven touchdowns, and adding 71 rushing yards and another score. But he passed the credit for his success Friday, and all season, to his offensive line. He was sacked just once all game, and admitted that there were times he thought he had held the ball too long, but was surprised to see there was still no pressure in his face.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said of his comfort level in the clean pockets he has been afforded this season. “Last year, I was on the run a lot, it felt like — we were so depleted. But I remember on the second touchdown, to Zach in the corner, I remember thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, someone’s gotta be coming on the backside.’ There wasn’t, there was just so much time. These guys are the best.”

Sophomore Jack Woodworth, Ty’s cousin and the Bulldogs’ center and defensive tackle, said that he and his fellow linemen work hard at every practice, allowing that success to carry over to game days.

“We work our butts off everyday, and that really transfers into the game,” he said.

Playing iron-man football means Jack, Ty, Dallin Permann, Zach and Luke’s cousin, and Cooper Black are in on every snap, on both sides of the ball. So they were part of the defense that was asked to carry a heavy burden Friday.

Before the game, Hunter told EastIdahoSports.com that Rockland’s key to victory was keeping Castleford’s explosive running duo from getting to the perimeter.

The Bulldog defense did that successfully most of the game, allowing a few big runs in the second half but otherwise limiting the Wolves’ attack.

“We played awesome defense,” Hunter said. “That’s a good team over there. … We came in and knew that they were going to want to run the ball, and we just shut them down.”

Having already controlled the Castleford rushing attack, Rockland made its ability to contain the run known early in the second quarter, when they stopped the Wolves’ 1,000-yard rusher Connor Parish on a sweep to the right side on fourth and three, taking over possession ahead 16-0 at their own 5-yard line.

To go along with Parrish’s monster performance, Zach added 78 rushing yards, 134 receiving yards with a score and nine tackles. Luke finished with 36 yards rushing, 38 yards and two touchdowns receiving, one interception and seven tackles. Black contributed 66 yards and two touchdown catches, to go with five tackles.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a showdown with Carey, who beat No. 6 Salmon River (7-4) 42-36 Friday at Carey High School. While the day, time and location have not yet been set, Hunter told EastIdahoSports.com that he plans to request permission to play the game at Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome.

Rockland is now two wins away from the program’s first-ever state championship.

Getting those two wins, according to Hunter, will require the Bulldogs to continue playing together and for each other.

“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing,” the coach said. “Stay the course. One thing about these kids, they’re playing for each other.”

Parrish echoed that thought.

“It’s all about staying focused,” he said. “A big win like this, you can’t get distracted. We’ve got to show up Monday and keep grinding away.”

After the game, the senior told his teammates that, with one big win in their pocket, they “might as well” go out and get two more. He then got a bit sentimental, saying that it is crazy to think that every game from Friday on could be the last he plays with Zach and Ty.

“Us three seniors are dialed,” he said, “and these guys love us so much they’re just going to keep on working for us.”