In first season as starting QB, Grand Forks Red River sophomore Pearce Parks thriving late in the year
Oct. 27—GRAND FORKS — Grand Forks Red River football coach Vyrn Muir saw the turning point in Week 4 against Turtle Mountain.
His sophomore quarterback, Pearce Parks, came off the field and told an offensive assistant coach about the latest play.
"He said I stayed in the pocket, and I knew I was going to get hit, but I knew if I stayed, I could throw it and hit it, so I took it," Muir said. "I think maybe that's where he went from an inexperienced sophomore to something beyond that."
Parks' growth has the Roughriders, 7-2 overall and ranked No. 1 in the final North Dakota Class 11A poll, hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2011. Red River hosts Wahpeton at Cushman Field at 7 p.m. Friday.
Through the first six weeks of the year, Parks had just one touchdown passing. He had shown flashes of excellence, like throwing for 213 yards in Week 2 against Jamestown, but he had five interceptions to one passing touchdown through six weeks.
In the last three weeks, though, Parks has thrown seven touchdowns. Over the course of the season, he's also ran for seven touchdowns.
"I think it's me getting used to the varsity level," said Parks, who also played varsity basketball for the Riders last winter as a freshman. "In the first few games, I was more anxious. I feel like I have more time now. I feel a lot more used to the play."
Parks said he's picking his spots to run better now than earlier this year.
"When I was more nervous, sometimes I told myself go, go, go," Parks said. "Now, I can sit there and look ... if the pocket it collapsing, I can still look down field."
The last time Red River advanced beyond the quarterfinals of the state playoffs was 1991.
"We look at this as a great opportunity for this team and program," Parks said. "We're going to do everything we can to prepare. We know what's at stake."
Parks said the Red River offensive line has been the key to the recent three-game winning streak. The Riders are led up front by Lawson Lotysz at center.
"I have to give credit to those boys up front," Parks said. "If they have a great game, it's going to be great for us. All five of our guys up front could be all-conference this year."
Parks' top targets this year have been Quinn Nelson (313 receiving yards), Logan Arason (244 yards) and Hudson Flom (218 yards).
Red River beat Wahpeton 44-20 in Wahpeton during the regular season.
