Parsons coach Jeff Schibi has seen the Vikings enjoy plenty of offense in the last five years, including three winning seasons. However, the Vikings have often allowed lots of points. In 2019, Parsons permitted 38 points a contest. The following fall, Parsons finished 3-6 and No. 37 in 3A with 34.3 points allowed a game.
In 2021, Parsons jumped to 7-3 and was No. 11 with 17.7 points allowed a contest. Last year, the Vikings were No. 15 in 3A with 20.6 points permitted a game. Parsons opened 5-0 and dropped its final four contests.
“Mainly the last three years, we have really focused on defense,” Schibi said. “Because it’s been a weakness of ours in the past, and I think that emphasis is now paying off.”
This fall, Parsons is ranked fourth in 3A with 7.5 points allowed a contest, per the SunflowerSportsSolutions.com (S3) database. A couple of the opposing scores came against the Vikings’ junior varsity.
Raheeme Dumas played in 47 games as defensive back and picked off 11 passes for Fort Hays State University from 2012-16. Dumas is in his first year leading the Parsons defense. Ivory Kelly coaches the defensive line, and Kaito Burr-Miller coaches the linebackers. Burr-Miller has been at Parsons four years.
“I have got to give a shout-out to our defensive coaching staff as well,” Schibi said. “Because they really put in the time, and I feel like the kids kind of play into that attitude as well, and our defensive coaches have fun with them, and they go out there and have fun on the field as well.”
The improved defense has yielded an historical year for the Vikings, which graduated four of its top-five tacklers from last fall. Parsons is off to its first 6-0 start since a 7-2 finish in 1990, per Kansas Football History.
“The biggest thing in my opinion has been the weight room,” Schibi said. “We have really attacked the weight room and getting bigger, stronger, faster in the squat racks. I think that’s been the biggest factor. We are a lot stronger, and we are a lot more physical.”
Parsons opened with a quality 42-8 win versus Prairie View, a solid team that stands at 3-3. Since then, the Vikings have defeated Labette County (24-13), Iola (21-12), Baxter Springs (58-0), Riverton (27-0) and Galena (28-12).
Parsons starts only two seniors, along with seven juniors, one sophomore and one freshman on defense.
“First and foremost, we have been exceptional on the defensive side of the football,” Schibi said. “Years past, Parsons could put up some points, and make some big plays. But when we really needed to count on our defense, I don’t know if it was exactly there. But this year, it’s kind of been opposite. Our defense has been exceptional. We are really excited about how our defense is playing.”
The defense could yield another historical milestone Friday. Parsons (6-0, 2-0) will travel to Frontenac (5-1, 2-0) in a game that will likely decide Class 3A, District 1. Parsons is 0-9 against Frontenac in school history. Most recently, Frontenac won 27-21 in 2022, 42-13 in 2019, and 7-6 in 2018.
“Those kids are hungry,” Schibi said. “They are very active, they are physical, they are fast, aggressive, everything you would want in defenders, and I do think that emphasis over the last couple years is paying off now.”
Frontenac, under longtime coach Mark Smith, has won five straight since a 27-20 season-opening loss to 1A No. 1 Colgan. Since then, the Raiders had close wins versus Riverton, Bishop Ward and Girard before blowout victories against Columbus and Baxter Springs.
“Disciplined and well-coached they are, we know Mark Smith, we have played him several times in these last few years,” Schibi said. “That was the difference in the game last year was they had some really timely wonderful play calls on third and fourth down that really caught us by surprise that we hadn’t seen on film.”
Last year, Parsons lost to Galena (14-13), Frontenac (27-21), Columbus (30-6) and Girard (35-0). The Vikings had 52 tackles for loss and forced 11 turnovers. Parsons has talked about finishing stronger after 2022.
Offensively, senior Tra Mack has completed 64 of 106 passes for 944 yards with eight scores against two interceptions. Senior Jahmarion Washington has 114 carries for 756 yards and 14 TDs. Both are experienced players on a senior-laden defense.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think we are really where we want to be offensively quite yet,” Schibi said. “We are putting up some yards, but we really haven’t been as efficient in the red zone as I would like. And then what really has hurt us offensively has been some penalties and some untimely turnovers.”
Senior inside linebacker Cade Brown has 56 tackles, 11 for loss. Sophomore inside linebacker Chandler Hentzen has 48 stops, 12 for loss. Hentzen transferred from Labette County. Junior Demonta Kendrick – “a menace on the defensive line,” Schibi said - has 39 tackles, 11 TFLs. The trio has led Parsons’ defense, notably Brown.
“He has really been good for us,” Schibi said of Brown, a rising Class of 2024 prospect.
Kendrick and junior Damais Johnson are the defensive tackles. Freshman Da’karyi Jones has stepped in on defense after an injury. Senior Kaden Blake starts at defensive end.
“We are making plays two, three yards in the backfield, man that really sets your defense up for success,” Schibi said.
Junior outside linebacker Kaden Berry has six tackles for loss. Junior Jahmarcus Washington also starts at outside linebacker.
Kendrick has tallied 10 quarterback hurries and five sacks. Plus, senior Jayce Quirin is one of the state’s top specialists.
Parsons leads Kansas with 56 tackles for loss. Additionally, the Vikings have 15 forced turnovers, including nine interceptions. Junior cornerback Jason Smart has four interceptions and nine passes defended. Junior Trey Logan is at cornerback. Junior Makai Baugh is at free safety.
“They just have a mentality about them,” Schibi said. “They don’t care about stats. They don’t care about glory. They just want to go out there and play physical and hit people, and it’s something we really like, and we play into.”
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