It was “mission accomplished” for the Paris Eagles who defeated a much-improved Baptist Preps Eagles team on homecoming day. And in a week filled with distractions as it always is during high school homecoming, the top priority for Paris was to maintain focus and not lose a valuable conference game. Combine all of this with the fact that the Paris starters had not completed a game all year due to having big leads in games, Eagles fans were quietly concerned that the team needed someone to “push” them before their tough upcoming stretch with Atkins, Perryville, and Booneville. Paris won the game by the score of 24-14, and in doing so, improved their overall record to 6-0 for the second consecutive season. Paris is 3-0 in the 3A-4 conference, also for the second consecutive season.
For the first time this season, the game went scoreless in the first quarter. Paris had been used to scoring quickly and building big first quarter leads, but Friday night was different with a determined Baptist Prep team who wanted to avenge last year’s loss.
The game remained scoreless in the second until Paris was able to move the ball down field with big plays culminating in a Chase Watts quarterback keeper from approximately two yards out for the first score of the game. Later on in the quarter, Watts would scramble and hit Nate Henderson for a touchdown pass and run of approximately 40 yards. With 9:24 remaining in the second half, Paris led Baptist 14-0.
Paris held Baptist on their next offensive possession, and with 2:39 remaining in the first half, the Paris drive stalled, and Jeff Weaver called upon junior kicker James Yang for a rare field goal attempt. Yang hit a 37-yard field goal with plenty of distance to go on the kick, increasing the lead to 17-0. Baptist moved the ball on offense, and on the last play of the first half, Paris sophomore Maddox Watts intercepted a deep Baptist pass to end the scoring threat and the first half of play.
Paris put the game out of reach in the third quarter when Paris senior running back Duke Walker took a delayed hand off and sprinted to the goal line from approximately 35 yards out. The Walker touchdown increased the Paris lead to 24-0 with 8:44 remaining in the game.
But Baptist was not going to quit. They are a well-coached team, and the Prep Eagles continued to fight and compete for the entire game. On the next drive, Prep moved the ball down field and ended their drive with a 9 yard pass for a touchdown. The Eagles went for two but did not convert, and the score became 24-6 Paris with approximately 3 minutes to play in the third quarter.
The remainder of the game saw Paris go to the run to use the remaining time in the game. Baptist mounted one last drive that ended in a touchdown and a two-point conversion. The final score was Paris 24, Baptist 14.
Paris now turns its attention to a huge home conference game next week with Atkins. It is the first of a critical three game stretch that will see Paris hosts top conference contenders Atkins and Perryville, and ending with a trip to South Logan County to play Booneville at the end of October. It is “one game at a time” for Paris, and Jeff Weaver and his Eagles will be solely focused on a dangerous Atkins team this week in practice.
After Friday’s game, Paris coach Jeff Weaver commented, “First game we had to play a full game and it showed. Prep did a good job making things tough on us but our defense dominated most of the night. We got tired but made enough plays to get it done.”
Photos from this game will be posted on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports on Sunday night. Watch for a preview of next week’s game with Atkins in Resident Press on Tuesday.
Congratulations to Paris for their homecoming victory, and I look forward to seeing you at the stadium again next Friday for another beautiful night for football at Eagles Stadium!
