Parkland Wins 500th Game in Program History over Nazareth(Video Recap)

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Cody Brady | November 8, 2025

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When people talk about the night Parkland won its 500th game in program history, they’ll think back to a rainy, soggy night in November when TJ Lawrence, Blake Nassry, Finn Coen, and a dominant offensive and defensive line cruised past Nazareth in a District semifinal, 35-14. Two plays into the second half, Naquan Thomason enacted the mercy rule with his 38-yard run down the sideline in a steady rain.

Nazareth got the ball first, but after an early first down, TJ Lawrence recorded a TFL  that forced a punt. Parkland started at their own 43 and took nine plays to reach the end zone. On 3rd & Goal, after having a couple of runs stuffed, Finn Coen went to the air and hit Blake Nassry in the back of the end zone for the 7-0 lead with 4:00 to go.

The Blue Eagles started at their own 20 again, following another touchback on the kickoff. On 4th & 1 at their 29, they came to the line, but were unable to get the Trojans to jump offside and burned a timeout instead before punting. The punt was shanked and Parkland started in plus territory at the 40.

Coen went over the middle to Jude Ruisch to setup TJ Lawrence from three yards out. That made the score 14-0 Trojans with 1:02 to go in the first.

Parkland was driving for more when Marquez Wimberly came up with a Naquan Thomason fumble that stopped the Trojans near the red zone. However, Nazareth was again forced to punt after only one first down. And that punt was blocked. Liam Spang fell on it and Parkland was back in business.

Finn Coen threw a short pass in the flat to TJ Lawrence, and Lawrence made the magic happen, going 33 yards and breaking away from three would-be tacklers. With 5:21 to go in the half, Parkland was cruising on all cylinders, 21-0.

Nazareth needed a big play, but couldn’t find one. Cooper Madson went deep over the middle, but Blake Nassry was there to pick the ball off and give Parkland one more shot in the first half. The Trojans used up nearly the final five minutes of the quarter and TJ Lawrence again found the end zone on a 3rd & 3 play from 8 yards out. At the break, Parkland led 28-0 and Nazareth had only mustered four first downs.

Parkland received the ball in the second half. It took them only three plays before Naquan Thomason broke over the left side and into the end zone from 38 yards out. That put the game in the mercy rule with 11:06 to go in the third quarter.

As the rain began to pound down harder, the rest of the game was played with the understanding that Parkland was going to cement their spot in the District XI 6A title game against the Easton Red Rovers. While Marquez Wimberly did add two late touchdowns, with the mercy rule already in effect, the Blue Eagles had dug the hole too deep.

Madson threw a nice pass to Matt Leluga and Wimberly capped the drive off with two runs. He later scored from 68 yards out with time winding down in the fourth to bring the final score to 35-14.

On the night, Finn Coen was a perfect 5/5 passing for 84 yards and two touchdowns. TJ Lawrence finished with 131 yards and another pair of scores on the ground.

It was an emotional goodbye to Peyton Falzone for the Blue Eagles and their fans. Peyton, who has missed most of the season with a broken clavicle, will now move on to play in the SEC at Auburn.

Parkland will now take on Easton in the much-anticipated battle of District XI 6A behemoths. The last meeting between Parkland and Easton was in 2023 and Parkland won that game 34-20. Easton has not defeated Parkland since 2018.

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