Marshall Takes on Parkway in Shreveport + Can Start 3-0 for First Time Since 2008

Marshall Mavericks (2-0)

Vs.

Bossier City (La.) Parkway Panthers (0-1)

11 a.m. Saturday

Independence Stadium, Shreveport

Coaches

• Marshall: Clint Harper
• Parkway: David Feaster

Last week

• Marshall: def. Crandall, 56-22
• Parkway: lost to Shreveport (La.) Calvary Baptist Academy, 46-27

Next week

• Marshall: Idle
• Parkway: at Texarkana (Ark.) Arkansas High, Sept. 19

Playmakers

Marshall

• OL Chett Munden, Sr., 6-6, 305 (committed to North Texas)
• RB Deondre Osborne, Jr., 5-9, 210 (3 rushing TDs)
• WR John Love, Sr., 5-11, 185 (99 receiving yards, 2 TDs)
• DL Trey Valentine, Sr., 6-3, 226 
• DL Antonio Washington, Jr., 6-1, 250 
• OL Tyler Hodges, Sr., 6-1, 280
• OL C.J. Powell, Sr., 6-2, 295
• QB Justin Hart, Jr., 6-0, 160 (26 of 36, 431 passing yards, 5 TDs)
• QB Cameron Haller, Soph., 5-11, 195 (6 carries for 177 yards vs. Crandall)
• WR Jaquavian Dabbs, Sr., 5-11, 175

Parkway

• DB C.J. Morgan, Jr., 5-10, 185
• QB Keondre Wudtee, Jr., 6-4, 183
• RB/WR William McKnight, Sr., 6-2, 188
• S Dante Williams, Sr., 6-2, 205
• OL Kameron Eloph, Sr., 6-4, 277
• TE Artavious Lynn, Sr., 6-5, 187
• WR Jared Lancaster, Sr., 5-11, 180

Just the facts

• Marshall is 2-0 for the first time since 2008. It made the playoffs the last time it started the season with two wins.
• Since 2000, Marshall is 17-8 against opponents from Louisiana. However, Parkway defeated the Mavericks 62-19 last season on the way to a Louisiana 5A championship game appearance.
• The Mavericks have been explosive on offense against middle of the road Royse City and Crandall teams. Marshall outscored the opponents 110-43 and held both teams to three touchdowns.
• Justin Hart, a junior, and sophomore Cam Haller create a two-headed quarterback system for the Mavericks. Hart has thrown for 431 yards through two games. Haller has 341 rushing yards and five touchdowns on just 17 carries.
• Parkway gave up seven turnovers in its season-opening loss to Calvary Baptist Academy last week.
• Parkway fell from No. 3 in the Louisiana Sports Writers' Class 5A poll to No. 10 Tuesday.
• Despite the loss, Parkway had 439 yards of offense last week. Marshall has averaged 528.5 yards through two games.

Key matchup: Marshall defense versus Parkway's offense. The reality is the Mavericks should get their best test of the season Saturday. Parkway put up 439 yards in its 46-27 loss against Calvary Baptist Academy despite seven turnovers. But there have been very good early signs from the Marshall defense. It held Crandall to 180 total yards last week and Royse City did not perform much better. Impressive numbers regardless of the competition.

Parkway quarterback Keondre Wudtee had a very rough debut last week as the varsity starter. He had four passes picked off and lost two fumbles. If the Mavericks put pressure on him, the odds are high they can generate something positive whether it's a turnover or hurried play.

Marshall has the athletes to get to the quarterback. Defensive linemen Trey Valentine and Antonio Washington provide a nice one-two punch in the trenches. If they cave in the Parkway offensive line, someone will be able reach the offensive backfield quickly.

Wudtee put up good numbers aside from turnovers. He completed 16 of 32 passes for 275 yards. The Parkway running game picked up 164 yards.

Marshall enters the game in good shape offensively. Quarterback Justin Hart has completed 26 of 36 passes for 431 yards and five touchdowns. Fellow quarterback Cam Haller has five touchdown scores and 341 yards on 17 carries. The unit probably won't coast past Parkway, but the indicators are there the Mavericks can have offensive success against a solid opponent.

Don't be surprised if: Marshall wraps up non-district play with a 3-0 record. The program can turn District 15-5A opponents' heads with a win against Parkway. Saturday's opponent has seven Division I prospects with interest varying from power five conference programs to FCS schools. A win would put Marshall at 3-0 for the first time since 2008 -- the last time the Mavericks made the playoffs.