Wildcat defense has only allowed 16 points in two games this season.
When Melissa star quarterback Taylor McGehee went down on a hard hit by Paris linebacker Jordan Williams on the Cardinal’s second series of the game, the visitors’ sidelines issued an immediate request for an ambulance.
By the end of Friday’s grueling Homecoming game at Wildcat Stadium, the Melissa team bus probably resembled an ambulance as it transported a host of Cardinal players who had drawn on-field treatment by medical staff as the result of some crisp hits coupled with the effects of a hot, humid, breeze-less summer evening.
The mistake-filled night made for prolonged drama, but ultimately, the physical play by the Wildcat defense kept the Cardinal out of the end zone until the Paris offense could unleash its 3-headed ground game for a couple of second-half scores. The Cats’ defense then delivered the knockout punch on Tre Barry’s 93-yard pick-six interception return, and the home crowd could finally breathe easier with a 31-10 Homecoming win in the books.
Prior to kickoff, Paris High senior TaTa Williams was crowned as the 2014 Homecoming Queen. It was the crown of Williams’ helmet which delivered the game’s fateful punch once the game began.
Melissa (0-2), a state champion just 3 years ago but an 11-point underdog coming into the game, took the initiative by surprising Paris (2-0) with a successful onside kick recovery. The Cats’ defense forced a quick punt, and the Paris offense put together a promising drive that ended on a Ja’Kerion Brown fumble at the Melissa 25, the only Paris turnover of the night.
That brought the Melissa offense back on the field and set the stage for the exits of both McGehee and Williams. The senior Cardinal quarterback rolled out to his left and and heaved a pass downfield as the Cats’ senior middle linebacker barreled in for the stop.
The pass fell incomplete, and the collision between McGehee and Williams left the Melissa quarterback on the ground as sideline staff rushed to his aid. “He will have to see a doctor,” Melissa coach Seth Stinton was quoted in a newspaper report. “He took a good shot.”
While unintentional, Williams’ tackle was ruled as “helmet-to-helmet” and drew a penalty and his ejection from the game. Five years ago, the hit might not have even drawn a flag, but that’s not the case in today’s concussion-conscious world.
The requested ambulance was deemed unneeded by medical attendants, but the end result had both key players on their respective sidelines watching the game unfold without their participation. In chess terms, it might have been seen as an even exchange, but in reality it probably favored Melissa.
McGehee’s emergency replacement, senior Kevyn Dietrich showed unexpected moxie in keeping Melissa in the game with his scrambling and ability to find open receivers. He completed 15 of 34 passes for 140 yards and rushed 12 times for 41 yards.
Meanwhile, without Williams in the lineup, the Paris defense revealed a soft underbelly that surrendered 168 yards on the ground and the inability to mount consistent pressure on Dietrich and his Melissa teammates.
That combination enabled the Cardinal to control time of possession (Paris only had 3 offensive series the first half), and Melissa was able to tie the score, 10-10, on a field goal with 3:48 left in the third quarter.
While the Paris defense was missing its all-state anchor and allowing 300 total yards, the unit was able to keep the Cardinal out of the end zone except for one extended drive in the second quarter that gave Melissa its first, and only, lead of the game, 7-3.
Still, the hard hits and gang tackling administered by the Cat “D” probably took its toll on the smaller Class 4A school. Eventually, the Paris rushing attack took control of the game down the stretch.
Paris’ Running Back Dren Rollerson during Friday night’s game against Melissa.
Quarterback Quez Allen scored three times on scrambles and gained 80 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore running back Brown had 13 rushes for 107 yards, while junior Dren Rollerson joined the mix after sitting out last week’s season-opener, and he produced 78 yards on 11 tries.
It was the long-anticipated debut of the threesome in the same backfield running behind a senior-dominated offensive line. The offense is still a works in progress, but with a high upside.
Allen completed 9 of his 12 throws for 93 yards to 7 different receivers. Paris only had to punt twice in the game, but punter Leonel Gutierrez had an impressive 41.6 net average including an critical 58-yarder from the end zone back line. Junior kicker Alfredo Medina contributed a 34-yard field goal and was a perfect 4 for 4 on conversions.
The bend-don’t-break Paris defense was topped by DonT Ridley’s 13 combined tackles. Lineman Ty Gray and sophomore linebacker Dre McKinney had 10 stops each, and senior linebacker Connor Hummel had 9. The defense also collected three interceptions (K.D. Scott, Barry, and McKinney).
Paris, ranked 18th in one state Class 4A-1 poll, travels to Tyler next Friday, Sept. 12, to face No. 13-ranked Chapel Hill (0-2). The Bulldogs, another opponent who was a recent state champion, will be desperately seeking their first win of the season after a pair of close losses to Class 5A neighbors.
Scoring Summary:
- Paris 3, Melissa 0. Alfredo Medina 32 FG, 9:25, 2q. A promising 11-play drive stalls at the Melissa 6 due to holding and false start penalties so the Cats settle for the field goal. Quez Allen hits K.D. Scott on a 33-yard post to get in position for the points.
- Melissa 7, Paris 3. Jordan Fortner 2 run (Carlos Mendez kick), 3:47, 2q. This 18-play, 75-yard drive is kept alive by a Cardinal trick play on fourth-and-seven when Dylan Cardwell and Kevyn Dietrich reverse roles on an end-around pass.
- Paris 10, Melissa 7. Allen 16 run (Medina kick), 1:27, 2q. It takes the Cats just 6 plays to go 60 yards and regain the lead. Paris uses some trickery of its own with a 16-yard gain on Jamar Sanders’ end-around run. That sets up Allen for a miracle escape from the Cardinal pass rush. He wrestles out of a tackler’s grasp and powers his way just inside the right pylon.
- Melissa 10, Paris 10. Mendez 24 FG, 3:48, 3q. Melissa travels 60 yards in just 6 plays for the tie. A 35-yard completion from Dietrich to Joe Ragon on a free play and a 20-yard run by Zach Beasley are the keys.
- Paris 17, Melissa 10. Allen 7 run (Medina kick), 2:28, 3q. The Cats’ offense quickens its pace and strikes back just 80 seconds later to take the lead for good on another Allen scramble. The drive covers 52 yards in 5 plays following an onside kick recovery by Connor Hummel.
- Paris 24, Melissa 10. Allen 10 run (Medina kick), 10:10, 4q. The Paris defense stops a Melissa counter-attack on downs and the offense takes over at the Cats’ 24. It takes just 4 plays to go 76 yards for Allen’s third score of the night. Ja’Kerion Brown breaks free for a 41-yard gainer to put Paris on the Melissa doorstep.
- Paris 31, Melissa 10. Tre Barry 93 interception return (Medina kick), 7:37, 4q. The Paris defense delivers the knockout when Barry snags an overthrown pass, finds a running lane to the right sidelines and easily sprints pass Melissa’s pursuing linemen.
By: Tim Taylor, eParisExtra
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