PARIS- Paris will host the Knights on Senior Night this Friday at Eagles Stadium. The conference 3A-4 matchup will be crucial to the fates of both teams’ playoff hopes. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Eagles lost at Centerpoint a season ago by the score of 42-7. Since that time, the Knights have been a bit of a mystery.
Centerpoint was predicted to finish as the conference’s three seed behind Glen Rose and Bismarck. But the Knights started the season on a rocky note, dropping their 2023 season opener at Hackett by the score of 53-6. Since that week, the Knights have lost to Mena (17-16) and Bigelow (40-8). Centerpoint has wins against Two Rivers (40-6), Danville (42-21), and an upset at Magnet Cove (41-40) on October 6. At press time, the Knights were preparing to host Jessieville in a critical 3A-4 conference matchup.
Also at press time, Paris was preparing to take the field at Two Rivers for a must-win conference game if the Eagles were to have any chance of making the playoffs. The Centerpoint win complicated the playoff scenario for Paris, and now, Paris will face another must-win game at home on Senior Night against Centerpoint. Paris must have a head-to-head win over Centerpoint, as well as wins over Two Rivers and Danville to qualify for the playoffs. The Eagles have one regular season road trip remaining at Magnet Cove, and after Centerpoint’s upset on October 6, a win a Magnet Cove no longer seems to be as much of a long shot as it might have seemed a month ago. But regardless of the combination of wins, Paris must defeat Centerpoint to qualify for the playoffs. If Paris finishes in a tie with Centerpoint for the fifth seed, the winner of the head-to-head game between the two schools will get the playoff nod.
Centerpoint was 9-1 in the regular season a year ago with their only loss of the regular season being to Glen Rose. The Knights defeated Lavaca in the first round of the state playoffs by the score of 48-22 and then lost in the second round at Charleston by the score of 42-6.
The Knights have had to replace a lot of key seniors from last year’s roster but have an experienced junior quarterback in Drew Diggs and experienced and talented receivers, led by junior Bryce Harless. Harless had 17 receptions for 419 yards and three touchdowns last season. Undoubtedly, Centerpoint will test the Paris secondary with their passing game on Friday.
Fall sports seniors, as well as band seniors, will be honored in a pregame Senior Night ceremony this Friday. Fans will want to arrive early for Friday’s game to get a seat before the ceremony begins.
RNN Sports will be at the stadium on Friday to bring you all of the action in pictures. Watch for action photos from the game on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports next week. You will also want to watch for our post-game story on this game on our website at residentnewsnetwork.com on Saturday.
And…as always…we will see you at the stadium!
