One of the oldest coaching cliches in the game is about not giving up turnovers and how hard it is to win when a team turns over the ball. That factor is multiplied when a team plays on the road, and it is multiplied by an even greater factor when a young team is playing their first varsity game on the road.
Friday night’s game at Waldron started out well in the first quarter for Paris. The defense created a Waldron turnover, and, late in the quarter, blocked a Waldron field goal attempt. Hard-nosed running by quarterback Maddox Watts and senior running back Mason Bradley enabled the Paris offense to methodically move the ball into scoring position and eventually into the end zone. Paris led Waldron 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
But then, disaster struck, as Paris fumbled the ball five times in the second quarter resulting in five unanswered touchdowns by the Bulldogs offense. At halftime, it was a shell-shocked Paris team that went into the locker room down 35-7.
In the second half, Paris was unable to muster much offense either on the ground or in the air. The physical line play of Waldron dominated the game and gave the Paris quarterbacks and wide receivers virtually no chance. It was a tough night for a very young team that will have to regroup and continue to learn and improve each week.
Paris will return home next Friday for their home opener against Mansfield in a 3A non-conference game. Mansfield defeated Magazine tonight 41-6.
Photos from this game will be on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports on Sunday night. Watch for a preview of the Mansfield game in next week’s Logan County newspaper.
The Eagles played hard all night and never gave up. They need a big crowd at home next Friday to welcome the team home and to help them regroup against a very good Mansfield Tigers team who will be coming to Eagles Stadium. In short, the Eagles need your support…they need the Big Blue Nation to turnout big next Friday.
And RNN Sports will be at Eagles Stadium to bring you all of the action!
