A multi-faceted and quick-striking Wildcat offense, combined with a wounded opponent who continued to shoot itself in the foot with untimely penalties, made for a sweet ending to Paris High’s 2015 Homecoming as the Cats downed the Tyler Chapel Hill Bulldogs, 41-21, Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.
One year ago, it was the Cats who made the key mistakes in a 51-41 loss down in Smith County. For Friday’s rematch the Bulldogs were without the services of several key components of that 2014 win, most notably quarterback Konnor Hitchcock and speedy two-way stars Reggie King and Kenyotta Henderson, all on the sidelines nursing injuries.
By contrast, the 3-0 Cats were at full strength and able to utilize multiple weapons which make them one of the top offensive teams in the region. Despite heading into a stiff north breeze to start the game, Paris possessed a 14-0 lead before CHill had its first offensive snap.
Senior Quez Allen showed good decision-making to lead the Cats on scoring marches of 75 and 38 yards. Avoiding the Dogs’ pass russ, he found running mate Dren Rollerson open for a 17-yard TD strike, then he scrambled 32 yards for a quick second score. That was made possible when CHill gifted the ball back to the Cats when Homecoming King Ty Gray recovered a loose ball on the ensuing kickoff.
The visitors finally took advantage of the wind to close the gap to 14-7, and they overcame 3 of their 9 false start penalties to drive for a second quarter score. However, the Paris offense kept clicking, and Rollerson collected two more TDs on a pair of 6-yard power runs to give Paris a 28-14 halftime lead.
When Rollerson went to the sidelines in the second half his replacement, sophomore Donovan Williams (11 carries for 58 yards), picked up the slack and scored late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 34-14.
Still, the Bulldogs (0-3) would not fold, and Ja’Braylon Franklin’s second TD run of the night trimmed the score to 34-21. However, they missed a chance to put an even bigger scare into the Homecoming crowd after recovering a high Paris punt snap at the Cats’ 19.
An unsportsmanlike conduct call on the recovery, two more false starts, and Tyrel McCalester’s second sack of the evening put a halt to the comeback rally. The Paris offense closed the book on the win when junior slot receiver Ja’Kerion Brown caught Allen’s fourth-and-10 pass in the flat and outran the CHill defense 33 yards for the clincher.
With his offensive line providing good protection, Allen was able to connect with five different receivers for 257 yards on 17 of 25 attempts and 2 TDs. Another potential TD was dropped, while his lone interception could have been a TD throw when Jalon Pipkins appeared to be the victim of a pass interference in the end zone.
Pipkins, who entered the game with 5 TDs among his 6 total pass receptions, was shut out of the end zone but still caught 3 passes for 63 yards and helped open up the field for other receivers. Brown caught 6 passes for 96 and the last score, Treavon Sims caught 4 for 58, and Rollerson had 3 catches for 26 and a TD in addition to 2 rushing scores among his 19 yards on 4 carries.
Allen also gained 147 yards on the ground to pace a balanced Paris attack (231 yards rushing, 257 passing).
The Paris defense had a tough time coping with CHill’s power and speed but held the Bulldogs to 247 total yards. Middle linebacker Dre McKinney had another busy night with 6 solo and 16 total tackles. Sophomore linebacker Quin Perry was in on 12 tackles.
The Wildcat D also made a key stop at the end of the first half protecting the 28-14 lead. CHill had a first-and-goal at the Paris 9 when Zay Gray stripped the ball on a Bulldog sweep, and Diarva Brown made the drive-stopping recovery.
After starting the year with victories against three still-winless teams, there’s a long, rough road ahead for the Cats. They won’t be back in their friendly home confines before an Oct. 23 date against Pittsburg.
The journey begins next Friday, Sept. 18, vs. Palestine (1-2) at the neutral site of Longview’s Lobo Stadium. The Cats finish pre-district on Sept. 25 at Argyle, then have an open date before starting District 7-4A-1 play at Liberty-Eylau and Princeton.
Scoring Summary:
- Paris 7, Chapel Hill 0. Dren Rollerson 17 pass from Quez Allen (Zach Lamb kick), 10:20, 1q. Cats use a well-scripted 6-play, 75-yard opening drive to take a lead they would never lose. Allen steps up in the pocket to avoid outside pressure and finds Rollerson alone down a middle seam.
- Paris 14, CH 0. Allen 32 run (Lamb kick), 8:56, 1q. Failure to corral the ensuing pooch kickoff costs the Bulldogs as Ty Gray recovers the loose ball at the CH 38. It takes just 3 runs by Allen to find the end zone. Again, he avoids the outside rush, but this time scrambles and brushes off a pair of would-be tacklers.
- CH 7, Paris 14. Deandre Hordge 9 run (Austyn Fendrick kick), 4:27, 1q. An exchange of punts benefits the Bulldogs with prime field position, and they travel just 32 yards in 5 plays to get on the board.
- Paris 21, CH 7. Rollerson 6 run (Lamb kick), 54.8, 1q. Cats close out an excellent first-quarter start going into the north wind with a steady 75-yard drive in 15 plays, including a successful fourth-and-one foot lunge by Allen to set up Rollerson’s score.
- CH 14, Paris 21. Ja’Braylon Franklin 2 run (Fendrick kick), 8:36, 2q. Dogs overcome 3 false start setbacks and a hold on this 73-yard, 14-play drive. A pass interference call against Paris and a conversion on fourth-and-1 at the Cats’ 10 keep the drive alive.
- Paris 28, CH 14. Rollerson 6 run (Lamb kick), 4:32, 2q. The 72-yard, 10-play drive ends on Rollerson’s run on fourth-and-3. The Cats are helped by a roughing the passer call and a 34-yard catch and run by Ja’Kerion Brown.
- Paris 34, CH 14. Donovan Williams 3 run (pass failed), 1:47, 3q. Backup RB Williams replaces an injured Rollerson and finishes off a 96-yard, 10-play march. There’s only one pass on the drive, but the 32-yard Allen-to-Jalon Pipkins completion sets up a first-and-goal at the CH 3. Lamb, who hasn’t missed all year on PAT attempts, doesn’t get a chance to convert when the ball slips off the tee on the hold.
- CH 21, Paris 34. Franklin 16 run (Fendrick kick), 11:34, 4q. Dogs jump back into the game with a 71-yard, 10-play drive. Franklin sweeps right end and crosses the end zone at the pylon.
- Paris 42, CH 21. Brown 33 pass from Allen (Graham Weatherford pass from Allen), 4:06, 4q. The Dogs get a golden opportunity for a late-game challenge when a high Paris punt snap gives them possession at the Paris 19. Three more CH penalties help the Cats make a defensive stand and turn the ball over to the offense for a 61-yard, 6-play, game-clinching drive. On fourth-and-10, Brown takes Allen’s throw in the right flat, makes a nice cutback inside and outruns pursuit to the end zone.
How Wildcat Opponents Fared:
- Mount Pleasant (0-3), lost to Jacksonville, 41-28
- Melissa (0-3), lost to Argyle Liberty Christian, 21-0
- Tyler Chapel Hill (0-3), lost to Paris, 42-21
- Palestine (1-2), lost to Fairfield, 63-28
- Argyle (2-1), lost to Celina, 46-36
- Liberty-Eylau (2-1), beat Arkansas High, 66-21
- Princeton (2-1), beat Greenville, 31-14
- Pittsburg (3-0), beat New Boston, 34-0
- Quinlan Ford (1-2), lost to Brownsboro, 45-7
- North Lamar (3-0), beat S&S Consolidated, 51-21