Sports
Brookwood-Parkview: Did You Know?
An inside look at facts about Parkview and Brookwood football you may not know.
Battle of Five Forks-Trickum
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Brookwood Community Stadium
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You might think you already know what the annual football game between and high schools is all about:
Bragging rights between neighboring communities, right?
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Well, yes.
But there’s a whole lot more, like the fact that the schools once shared the same stadium for their home games. Or that the current head coaches attended the same high school in DeKalb County. Or that the teams once took their rivalry all the way to the state finals.
Here’s a look at some things you may not know about the rivals, will the help of information supplied by both programs.
Championship Caliber
The two schools have combined for six state championships at the state’s highest classification (Parkview has four; Brookwood two). They have combined for 11 appearances in the state finals. In 2002, they played each other in the final, a 28-7 Parkview win. The win completed three consecutive 15-0 seasons for the Panthers.
Most Likely to Succeed
Brookwood head coach Mark Crews and Parkview head coach Cecil Flowe both attended the same high school, Columbia High in DeKalb County. Crews played football and wrestled; Flowe was a student trainer for both teams.
Who’s At Home This Week?
After Brookwood opened in 1981, the Broncos had to play its home games at Parkview Stadium until Brookwood Community Stadium opened in 1990. Brookwood’s first varsity game (in 1982) was a 35-0 loss to Parkview, but the Broncos beat the Panthers six times at the shared home stadium before moving out.
Lucky .777
That’s the career winning percentage for both head coaches. Flowe, who’s been Parkview’s head coach since 1993, is 185-53, and Crews, Brookwood’s head man since 2002, is 94-27. Both were assistant coaches at their respective schools before becoming head coach.
Before They Were Pros
According to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, 11 former Broncos and Panthers made it to the NFL, including current players Stephon Heyer (OL, Raiders) and Mansfield Wrotto (G, Seahawks) of Brookwood, and Michael Palmer (TE, Falcons) of Parkview. Others: Brookwood — Rennie Curran, linebacker; Jason Elam, kicker. Parkview — Ainsley Battles, safety; Brett Conway, kicker; Seth Marler, kicker; Jon Stinchcomb, OL; Matt Stinchcomb, OL; Mark Thomas, DE. And don’t forget former Parkview star and current Major League Baseball player Jeff Francoeur.
The ‘Bounce Pass’ Game
Parkview won the 2000 game 18-17 on a two-point conversion that Brookwood fans have called the “bounce pass” game, because many believe the ball hit the ground before being called a completed conversion. According to Crews, Brookwood later used the same two-point play to beat Camden County in OT in the 2002 state semifinals. That advanced the Broncos to the final to play … Parkview.
We Beat the Champs
In 1996, Brookwood won its first state championship, but lost the Battle of Five Forks-Trickum, 21-14 to Parkview. The next season, Parkview won its first state title, but — you guessed it — lost to Brookwood during regular season 10-7.
Who's Your Fave? Are you partial to Parkview? Loyal to Brookwood. Just don't care? .
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