After a 3-0 start to the 2021 football season, the Paris Eagles have now completed the non-conference portion of their schedule and will enjoy a bye week this Friday. The Eagles will open conference play on the road at Mayflower next Friday, September 24. The Mayflower Eagles were a five seed in last year’s state playoffs, losing in the first round at Charleston.
In last year’s game played in Paris, the Eagles decisively defeated Mayflower in last year’s conference opener. But Mayflower has a tradition of athleticism in not only football but all sports that they play, and the return match-up in Mayflower next week should be a highly competitive football game. The opening game in conference play is very important to all teams. Winners of week one conference games quickly vault to the top half of the conference standings and reduce the number of teams that they must overcome in the standings by half of the number of conference teams. That sounds simplistic, but in the month of October when teams play the tougher portions of their schedules, it becomes a very important factor as teams jockey for playoff positions and seedings.
Mayflower returns a talented and experienced team, and in next Friday’s game, the team speed for both teams will be on display on the artificial turf at Mayflower. And now that the conference portion of the schedule has begun, the Paris Eagles will be led by a big, talented, and experienced senior class that is hungry to go to the state playoffs as a high seed and beyond.
So far, that senior class has not played a complete game. Games have been decided early by amassing big leads early in the game, and the sportsmanship rule of running a continuous clock and shortening games has been in effect for all three Paris football games. But, those seniors have been able to exit early in games to protect themselves from exposure to possible injury, and, the Eagles have had the opportunity to get reserve players on the field and develop them further for possible crucial back-up roles, and for future development. One such player that has benefited from playing time is Maddox Watts. Watts plays on defense, but, may be relied upon to succeed his brother, Chase, next year as the Eagles’ starting quarterback. If that becomes the case, his playing time this year is critical for the continued success at that position next year after the graduation of his brother.
Resident Press will bring you a preview next week of the game at Mayflower on September 24. Stay with Resident Press for the most complete coverage of Paris Eagles football!
Enjoy your bye week!
