All of the off-season and summer workouts are now complete, and it is time to play football. On Friday, August 26, the Paris Eagles will travel to Scott County to play at Waldron. Kickoff for the Eagles game with the Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The game will be a profile of two teams that are in rebuilding mode in their respective programs. Waldron, coming off of a one win conference season a year ago, will play in a new 4A conference that will feature just six teams: Arkadelphia, Malvern, Mena, Nashville, Ashdown, and the Waldron Bulldogs. A “murder’s row” of conference teams, but, on the bright side, one conference victory will put any team in the 4A-7 conference into the playoffs as no worse than a number five seed. But finding that win will be tough.
The Paris Eagles enter the 2022 season having won 23 games in the past two seasons. But the majority of players who won those games have now graduated, and Paris is just left with a total of five starters combined on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. There are several players who received some playing time last year in mop-up roles during blow-out wins for Paris, so, they will not be taking the field for the first time in varsity football. But it is a different proposition starting a game as compared to entering a game with a big lead and very little pressure.
Waldron is coached by Doug Powell and the Bulldogs were 2-7 a year ago with wins over Atkins and Dover, both away from Bulldogs Stadium. The Bulldogs return five starters on each side of the ball and have decent depth on the line of scrimmage. They must improve defensively in the secondary to have a chance to hold opponents this season.
Paris had a good showing in its scrimmage game versus Magazine, but as all scrimmage games go, there is very little that one can ascertain from their outcomes. With that said, Waldron will be a first test for a very young Eagles team. A road win against the Bulldogs would be huge for this team. The Eagles return home next week on September 2 for another non-conference match-up with former conference member school, Mansfield.
So Eagles fans, travel safely and get there early to get a seat. The long, hot, and tumultuous summer is over for the most part, and football season is finally here!
Watch for a post-game story on the Waldron match-up on Sunday at residentnewsnetwork.com. This story will be on RNN’s online platform and will free for anyone to access.
RNN Sports is excited to bring you high school football action all season, so stay with us for complete coverage!
