LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
In the brief three-year match up between the Paris Tigers and the North Vermillion Falcons, several anomalies have occurred.
The most recent one took place on Friday night as the Tigers opened their season with a resounding 57-0 victory over their visitors from Indiana. Two years ago, these teams were hit with blistering conditions with the Tigers outlasting the Falcons 21-14. Last season, Paris trailed 21-13 before the skies opened up in Vermillion County forcing the game to be completed the following Saturday morning. Nothing much went the Tigers’ way on the return trip and the Falcons ran away with a 42-13 win.
In the rubber match of this new series, the Tigers scored a touchdown on seven of their eight possessions in the first half, leading 49-0 at intermission.
Facing an undersized and undermanned team, the Tigers did exactly what they were expected to do in their season opener. Paris won the coin toss and wanted the ball to start things off. Starting at their own 45-yard line, the Tigers needed just four plays to cover 65 yards with Eli Blair bulling his way in from five yards out to give the home squad a 6-0 lead, just 2:10 into the contest.
Paris got the ball right back on the third play on offense by the Falcons. Dawson Rogers stepped into the passing lane on third-and-long and intercepted a pass from quarterback Shawn Martin. The junior linebacker returned the pick-off all the way to the 26-yard line. Two plays and a penalty on the return later, Rogers took a handoff from Brayden Rogers and followed a devastating block from pulling guard Drake East to go untouched into the end zone for a 29-yard score. Blair once again found paydirt on the two-point conversion and the Tigers led 14-0 with 7:22 left in the first period.
The Tigers began their third possession of the game inside Falcon territory at the 43-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Brayden Rogers missed a wide-open Dawson Rogers for what would have been another score. However, these two connected on the very next play with Dawson splitting a pair of defenders to score his second-straight touchdown. Garrett Rigdon added the extra point and the Tigers held a 21-0 lead with 4:27 still left in the opening quarter.
Following another three-and-out from the Falcons, the Tigers capped another three play drive with Rogers reeling off a 47-yard run for his third touchdown of the quarter. Rigdon tacked on the extra point to make it 28-0 with 1:27 left in the first.
Carter Crippes out-jumped a Falcon receiver on the third play of their third drive for his first interception of the season. He then hauled in a 32-yard pass from Rogers to move the ball all the way to the Falcons’ 16-yard line. A 10 yard run from sophomore tailback Levi Bartley gave the Tigers a first and goal from the five yard line. It was only fitting that Crippes was given the opportunity to finish off the drive that he created as the senior powered his way in on the next play for the score. The extra point made it 35-0 with 11:56 left in the first half.
The sixth score of the first half was once again set up by a great punt return from Karic Vitale inside Falcon territory. Bartley finished off the longest drive of the game for the Tigers in terms of time of possession with a 2-yard run to make it 42-0.
After coming close to blocking a pair of punts from the Falcons, the Tiger special teams unit got into the mix. Senior lineman Charlie Ford busted through the line and lived out every big man’s dream by not only blocking the punt, but also recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point from Rigdon made the score 49-0 at intermission and assured a running clock throughout the entire second half. The Tiger defense did not allow a first down until the final play of the first half.
The only score of the second half for either team came on a one-yard run from freshman Marcus Hutchings in the fourth quarter.
Brayden Rogers attempted just three passes in the game, completing two of them for 75-yards and a touchdown. Drew Kirby finished the second half under center completing two-of-four passes for 32 yard. Dawson Rogers led the way on the ground gaining 109 yards on just four carries adding a pair of touchdowns. Crippes carried the ball six times for 39 yards and a touchdown. Dani Lopez gained 36 yards on seven totes while Bartley carried the ball six times for 32 yards and a score. Madox Hutchings added 18 yards on a pair of carries with Rigdon posting 14 yards on his only two touches. Blair carried twice for eight yards and a touchdown, with Kirby adding nine yards on two touches. Jack Sabens gained five yards and Marcus Hutchings carried once for a yard and a score.
Rogers caught one pass for a 43-yard score in the opening quarter. Vitale hauled in a pair of passes for 42 yards. Crippes secured his only catch for 32 yards, Carter Cochran caught one pass for 29 yards, and Sabens added a reception for three yards.
The Tiger defense allowed just 42 yards of total offense, tallying three interceptions and a touchdown on special teams.
Paris will host their former Apollo Conference rivals tonight, as the Charleston Trojans come to Tiger Stadium. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.