LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
NEWTON – After celebrating homecoming last weekend, the Paris Tigers traveled to Newton Friday, Oct. 4 in hopes of spoiling the Eagles’ festivities.
The Eagles had other plans, as they were looking for their first win of the season. Newton hit big play after big play to grab that first win of the year 20-14 over the Tigers. Paris falls to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the Little Illini Conference while Newton moves to 1-5, 1-3.
Paris marched down the field on the opening drive of the contest, utilizing the legs of Mason Byrnes. The senior tailback accounted for over 30 yards on the ground on the Tigers’ first possession. However, the drive stalled at the Eagles 10-yard line and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs. Newton gained just one yard on their initial possession and was forced to punt. With great field position to start their second drive, the Tigers were again unable to capitalize as Drew Rogers threw an interception on the very first play. Newton struck first with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Mulvey to Drake Wolf at the 8:06 mark of the second quarter to grab a 7-0 lead.
Paris once again faced fourth and long in their own territory on their next possession and they had to give the ball right back to Newton. However, Carter Cochran forced the ball out of the kick returner’s hands and the Tigers recovered the football at the Newton 35-yard line. Once again, Rogers was intercepted by Wolf and the Tigers missed a golden opportunity to tie the game.
The Mulvey-Wolf connection materialized again on the first play for the Eagles – a 35-yard pass play to move the ball to the Tiger 32-yard line. Once again, the Tiger defense was up to the task as they held Newton on fourth down to get the ball back with under a minute in the half. They were able to move the ball to the Eagle 30-yard line, but time expired with the Tigers trailing 7-0.
Newton got the ball to start the second half and on their second play from scrimmage hit another big play to move the ball inside the Tiger 20-yard line. On fourth and 16, the Eagles converted with a 19-yard pass to set up first and goal at the seven. Two plays later, Wolf bowled into the endzone to make it 14-0 with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
Carter Crippes returned the ensuing kickoff to the Newton 45-yard line, then finished off the scoring drive with a 39-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 14-7 with 5:32 left in the third period. The lead quickly jumped to 20-7 as the Eagles, aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty against the Tigers, found paydirt with an eight-yard pass to Dexter Fulton.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers gained 27 yards on a screen pass to Garret Rigdon to set up a first-and-goal at the five. Byrnes split the Eagle defense on the next play and Rigdon added the extra-point to make the score 20-14 with 11:20 left in the game.
After driving all the way to the Paris 25-yard line, Newton failed to convert on fourth down and the Tigers got the ball back with 5:43 remaining in the game. It looked as though the Tigers were in business as Rogers found his brother Dawson for a 35-yard reception, but offensive pass interference was called to move the ball all the way back to the Paris 12-yard line. The Tigers punted the ball back to the Eagles who took over at their own 46-yard line with 5:16 left.
For the first time all night, the Newton punt unit stepped on the field. Facing fourth and 8 near midfield, the Eagles tried the fake punt, but Andre Calhoun sniffed it out and stopped the ball carrier short of the marker. With less than two minutes on the clock, the Tigers failed to gain a first down and gave the ball back to Newton. The Eagles knelt three times to secure their first win of the year.
Rogers completed just six of 20 passes for 110 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Byrnes racked up 87 yards on 21 carries, Rogers gained 23 yards on seven rushes and Rigdon carried twice for three yards.
Crippes hauled in a pair of catches for 50 yards and a 39-yard touchdown. Rigdon also caught two passes for 34 yards while Karic Vitale grabbed two passes for 26 yards.
Paris will host the undefeated Olney Tigers on Friday. Oct. 11 at Tiger Stadium with kickoff set for 7 p.m.