The last two weekends for the Parkland High School football team were not kind to them. The Trojans lost back-to-back games by just one score. A fumble late in the game led to a loss to Central Catholic and then a late score by Whitehall forced overtime before they scored and earned a two-point conversion to walk off their field winners.

Searching for a victory to stop the bleeding, Trey Tremba and the Parkland defense stepped up to make sure they would earn the win. Tremba rushed for 120 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Trojan defense allowed just one score, including a second half shutout in defeating Pleasant Valley 38-7 last Friday night in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference cross-division matchup at Parkland School District Stadium.

“This feels amazing, we really needed this one to get back on track and going again,” said Tremba. “After the last two weeks with back-to-back losses, it wasn’t good for our team energy level. We really wanted to get back on a win streak.”

The win for Parkland (3-3 overall, 2-3 EPC South Division) also handed the Bears (5-1, 5-0) their first loss of the season. Head coach Blaec Sager was complimentary about lining up against a talented Trojans team.

“Now that we’re no longer undefeated we can stop talking about all of that,” said Sager. “Our first five games compared to their first five games is a world of difference. They are a great team and have a very difficult schedule. For us to come down here and compete for 48 minutes against that giant over there, I am so proud of these guys. They have the numbers and the talent and the coaching and are just an awesome program. Our kids were right there with them for a long time in the game. If nothing else, we showed that we belong.”

Tremba’s 10-yard score in the first quarter was the only points in the first 12 minutes.

For two-and-a-half quarters, Pleasant Valley was within striking distance of Parkland. After tying the game on a two-yard keeper by quarterback Valentino Byers-Robinson with 5:32 left in the second quarter, the Trojans answered in quick fashion. They returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards for a score through Marquez Wimberly, then struck for a 41-yard touchdown pass from Luke Spang to Jack Harrison on the first play of a drive with 0:45 to half that gave them a 21-7 lead going into the locker rooms.

Parkland took control of the game in the third quarter where it outscored Pleasant Valley 17-0. It helped having a lot of its starters back offensively to go along with Tremba.

“It feels great for everyone to be back,” said Tremba. “Having Luke [Spang] and Nakhi [Bullock] back was a big boost for us. It takes some pressure off me to have nights like this, but they are just great players and mean a whole lot to our team. The offensive line did a great job opening up holes for me tonight. I didn’t have to get hit as much tonight and am feeling pretty good.”

The Bears brought a different element to the game with their triple option offense. The Trojans do not see it often and had a tough time defending it in the first half. Overall, PV ran 59 times for 188 yards and the Byers-Robinson touchdown. But Parkland left the locker room at halftime and shutdown the Bears offense the rest of the way.

“The defense figured it out then and from there they took over,” Tremba said. “They made some big stops and had big plays and from there our offense got the ball and scored.”

Parkland will host another team from the EPC North Division in East Stroudsburg South (3-3, 3-2) on Friday night.