Parker’s Malik Muhammed started the season throwing touchdowns, but he caught the biggest one of the season on Friday night.

Muhammed, who missed the last several games with a collarbone injury, caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Jennings with two minutes remaining to lift the Thundering Herd to a 21-14 victory over Oxford in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs at Major Brown Memorial Stadium in Birmingham.

The Jennings-to-Muhammed touchdown came on a fourth-and-6 play. He caught the ball at the Oxford 33 and raced to the end zone.

“I told coach I will do whatever he needs me to do for the team,” Muhammed said. “I just wanted to be on the field. I didn’t care where I lined up. I just wanted to help my team win. Me and Cam have good chemistry on the field, and have been working all week together.

“With this being my first game back, I just wanted to contribute,” he added. “Coach called a good play on fourth down, we caught them in man defense, and Cam hit me coming across with a perfect pass. I didn’t break stride and was able to score.”

Parker (11-1) has won six straight since a one-point loss to Pleasant Grove, and the Thundering Herd advances to the quarterfinals for the second time in the last three seasons. Oxford (9-3) lost for the second time on the road this season.

Stat sheet: Auburn commit Jordan Crawford led the Parker defense with 10 tackles and three sacks, and Alabama commit Jeremiah Beaman added eight tackles and two sacks. Amari Brundidge ran 20 times for 117 yards and a 2-yard touchdown, and Na’eem Offord scored on a 9-yard run. Jennings finished 7-of-15 passing for 105 yards, and Muhammed caught four passes for 88 yards.… Oxford’s Camare Hampton caught a 7-yard TD pass from Mason Mims, and Jayden Thomas scored on a 6-yard run. Mason finished 13-of-18 passing for 164 yards, and Thomas had 12 carries for 75 yards.

By the numbers: 1, turnover – a lost fumble by Parker. …. 176, rushing yards for Parker on 31 carries. … 4, Muhammed caught four of Parker’s seven complete passes.

Coachspeak: “Malik is a special kid. He has battled injuries throughout his high school career, and when he broke his collarbone earlier this season, I told him he was going to be back for us to make a run in the playoffs. For him to make that play and score the game-winning TD, that’s what Parker football is about. We just have to stay focused.” – Parker coach Frank Warren

“We knew coming into the game that it was going to be a game where it comes down to three, four or five plays. Unfortunately, they made one more play that we did. My team grew up over the course of the season. We finished a better team than when we started, and I am extremely proud of that.” – Oxford coach Sam Adams

He said it: “Coach trusted me and he showed it on fourth-and-6. We had been running the ball that whole drive. Coach saw something, called the perfect play, and I was able to get the ball to Malik. Malik is a good athlete. We are lucky to use him as an offensive weapon wherever he lines up.” – Jennings

What’s next?: Parker advances to play Gadsden City next week in the 6A quarterfinals.