MANSFIELD- In a non-conference game that featured Mansfield and their former conference rival, Paris, both teams were looking to the game to see where their teams stood after both teams’ zero week wins. Mansfield dominated Magazine in zero week, shutting out the Rattlers 56-0. Paris, defeated Waldron at home to avenge a big loss from a year ago.
So, on Friday, Paris traveled to Mansfield to play the Tigers again in non-conference after losing big at home to the Tigers last season. The young Eagles played well in zero week, and hopes were high that Paris fans would see continued improvement this week at Mansfield.
But the Eagles ran into a buzz saw on Friday night in Scott County. Mansfield, under new head football coach Whit Overton who was hired from Booneville this summer, looked very much on offense like a carbon copy of the Bearcats running game. The Tigers scored on four of their first five offensive possessions and ran away to a 41-3 halftime lead.
In the sportsmanship rule-shortened second half, Paris managed to score again, but missed the extra point on a busted play. The final score was 47-9 after a final Mansfield touchdown was called back by penalty.
Tonight’s win improves Mansfield’s record to 2-0 overall. The Eagles drop to 1-1 on the early season.
In our season preview, RNN Sports predicted Mansfield to be the three seed in their conference with an important game at Charleston on October 6 that could be for the two seed. But after watching the Tigers tonight, they may give the Booneville Bearcats a serious run, and that game is scheduled at home, a week later, on October 13. The Tigers may find themselves playing Booneville for the lead and possibly the conference championship on that date. Charleston lost tonight to Elkins by the score of 49-13, and Booneville won at Ozark, 48-35.
So, Mansfield, in September, will have games at Waldron and Greenland, and a home game with West Fork. If the Tigers win in September, it all sets up a huge first two weeks in October where the Tigers could be playing for a two seed or a conference championship. Mansfield does have an intriguing matchup at the end of the season at Hackett who is scoring points by the bushel load with its “air raid” offense. The Hornets passing game vs. Mansfield’s running attack would be a classic matchup. That game is scheduled to be played in Hackett on November 3. At press time for this story, Hackett was at Pocola, Oklahoma, and no score had been reported.
But first things first. The Tigers must remain healthy, but as of this week, they look very impressive. It could be a very interesting month of October in the 3A-1 conference race.
For the Eagles, they have an opportunity to regroup and win their final non-conference game next week in Paris against West Fork. A win would give the Eagles a 2-1 record to start the season and would be a step in a positive direction in the rebuilding process from last season. The Eagles will have a bye week the following week on September 15, giving the team a chance to rest and heal any injuries that have accumulated in the first three weeks of the season. Paris will travel to Glen Rose on September 22 to open conference play.
Mansfield will travel to Waldron next week for the Tigers’ first away game of the season. Tonight, Waldron was at home to Lamar, and the Bulldogs lost 40-6 to the Warriors. Paris’s opponent next week, the West Fork Tigers, lost at Berryville by the score of 16-13.
Congratulations to new Mansfield coach Whit Overton and the Tigers on their convincing win tonight at Tigers Stadium. And good luck to both teams as they continue their seasons.
