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Paris Tigers rally in second half but lose to Effingham 27-21
  
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By AARON KENNEDY
Sports Editor
EFFINGHAM – The Paris Tigers football team rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit to come within a score of winning their game against the defending Apollo champion Effingham Flaming Hearts Friday night, but came up just short, losing 27-21 in the final minutes.
Paris had their hands full in the first half trying to bottle up Effingham quarterback Nick Jones.
With just over eight minutes left in the first quarter, Jones put the first points of the night on the board, when he broke a 62 yard run through the Tigers defense for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, and The Flaming Hearts had a 6-0 start to the game. After getting the ball on the kickoff, the Tigers fumbled the ball on their next offensive play, giving the ball back to Effingham on the Paris 36 yard line. The Flaming Hearts took advantage, and Jones threw a touchdown pass to fellow senior Brandon Apke. Jones then ran the ball in for the two point conversion, and the Effingham lead grew to 14-0 with 7:16 left to play in the opening quarter.
The Tigers showed signs of life, and big play ability, late in the quarter.
With 4:43 left in the first, Paris quarterback Avery Mason found wide receiver Chase Brinkley open in the middle of the field. Brinkley reeled the pass in and then broke free for a 44 yard touchdown. Robert Morris hit his mark on the extra point kick, and the Tigers were down 14-7.
By the start of the second quarter, the Flaming Hearts had answered the Paris score by marching deep into Paris territory. The Tigers defense stiffened, and Effingham opted to go for it on a 4th and goal on on the Paris 12 yard line. An Effingham receiver caught the ball and was headed for the corner of the end zone, when Brinkley stopped him cold with a perfect tackle on the three yard line. The Effingham turnover on down gave the ball back to the Tigers.
Paris was not able to drive the long field after the touchdown-saving tackle and, when Effingham got the ball back, Jones found Rob Grant on a nine yard fade to the corner of the end zone. The extra point was good, and Paris was 21-7.
Jones gave the Tigers fits in the first half, and capped off his running/passing performance with another touchdown scramble with a minute left in the half. When the Tigers blocked the extra point, not may fans would have guessed that the missing point would have the Flaming Hearts very concerned in the fourth quarter.
During the 27-7 halftime, Effingham’s band performed on the field while some Paris fans complained grumbled about the fireworks that were set off all too frequently behind the visitor stands. Few thought those fireworks would be silenced in the second half.
The second half belonged to the Paris Tigers.
Sick of play fakes, jet sweeps and number eight running at will through their defense, the Tigers adjusted and did not allow a single point in the second half.
Paris linebackers Jake Keys, Derek Abernathy and David Hamilton began to lay viscous hits on Effingham ball carriers, and set the tone for the rest of the team by doing so. On one particularly good defensive series for Paris, Abernathy knifed in low and de-cleated an Effingham ball carrier in the back field, sending him flipping head over hills before landing a yard short of the line of scrimmage. The Flaming Hearts were forced to punt it back to Paris on a 4th and 10 and deep in Paris territory.
“Our linebackers started flowing and making plays in the second half,” said Paris head coach Mike Brouwer. “Derek Abernathy had a tremendous game. This should prove to the kids what a solid year in the weight room can do for you. Derek is a good example,” Brouwer continued. “Last year he probably couldn’t make that tackle, and he just stepped and made a world of difference, making tackle after tackle on the jet sweep. Jake Keys also did an excellent job, coming up and making tackles in the second half.”
The Paris offense looked much more physical in the second half, and the line began to make holes for the Paris backs.
With 2:20 left in the third quarter, Keys ran through one of those nice holes, broke some tackles and ran right through the middle of the Effingham defense for a 20 yard touchdown. Morris added the extra point, and was back in the game with a 27-14 score.
Paris running back Levi Eslinger had been looking for a little daylight through the entire game. With 11:39 left in the fourth quarter, Eslinger got the ball on run to the right, made one miss, found a seam, and was finally able to unleash his speed, running 68 yards down the sideline for a Paris touchdown. After Morris added another extra point kick, the Tigers found themselves with a 27-21 score and all of the momentum.
The Flaming Hearts thought they had deflated the Tigers on the ensuing kickoff return, when they broke it open and ran it all the way back. They even let off some fireworks. The Paris sideline knew better, though. Their was a flag back on the Effingham 21 yard line for holding. The touchdown was taken off the board and called back.
The teams then traded possessions, with both having to eventually punt the ball away.
Effingham was looking to milk every second they could out of the clock and put the game away on a 4th and six on the Paris 31 yard line with 3:16 left to go.
With both side’s fans louder than they had been the entire night, Jones dropped back to pass, rolled out under pressure and threw down the left side of the field. The Tigers’ Johnnie Dayton intercepted the pass and returned it 12 yards to the Paris 43.
With time running out, Mason was driving the Tigers offense closer and closer to a possible score. Mason had been keeping the Paris offensive drives alive all night with QB sneaks and scrambles for first downs. He did it against with 1:40 left in the game for Paris.
On 4th and three, with 1:28 left to go, Mason snapped the ball, turned and threw it right to a Paris wide receiver. He tried to beat his man to the first down marker, and appeared to have it when he dove with the ball extended. The ball was spotted very close to the first down marker, but a measurement showed it to be just short.
Effingham got the ball back and ran the clock out when they got a first down with their a few dive plays.
Paris came up just short of knocking off the a team that were Apollo conference champs after a 9-0 2007 season. The Tiger completely dominated Effingham in the second half, but a lackluster first half gave the Flaming Hearts just enough cushion to escape with the win.
“The difference was the play of our offensive line and our defensive line in the second half,” Brouwer said after of the second half improvement. “The line blocked, did their responsibilities, and the running backs ran hard. We played a heck of a lot harder in the second half than we did in the first half. We did our jobs defensively and we controlled the ball offensively,” Brouwer noted. “Now we just have to play like that for 48 minutes.”
The Paris Tigers (0-2, 0-1) will try to put together a complete game Friday during their home opener against Apollo conference rival Charleston. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Scoring by quarter
Paris 7 0 7 7 -21
Effingham 14 13 0 0 -27
Rushing
Eslinger: 23-158, Keys: 14-73, Mason 11-29
Passing
Mason: 3-9, 63, TD
Paris had their hands full in the first half trying to bottle up Effingham quarterback Nick Jones.
With just over eight minutes left in the first quarter, Jones put the first points of the night on the board, when he broke a 62 yard run through the Tigers defense for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, and The Flaming Hearts had a 6-0 start to the game. After getting the ball on the kickoff, the Tigers fumbled the ball on their next offensive play, giving the ball back to Effingham on the Paris 36 yard line. The Flaming Hearts took advantage, and Jones threw a touchdown pass to fellow senior Brandon Apke. Jones then ran the ball in for the two point conversion, and the Effingham lead grew to 14-0 with 7:16 left to play in the opening quarter.
The Tigers showed signs of life, and big play ability, late in the quarter.
With 4:43 left in the first, Paris quarterback Avery Mason found wide receiver Chase Brinkley open in the middle of the field. Brinkley reeled the pass in and then broke free for a 44 yard touchdown. Robert Morris hit his mark on the extra point kick, and the Tigers were down 14-7.
By the start of the second quarter, the Flaming Hearts had answered the Paris score by marching deep into Paris territory. The Tigers defense stiffened, and Effingham opted to go for it on a 4th and goal on on the Paris 12 yard line. An Effingham receiver caught the ball and was headed for the corner of the end zone, when Brinkley stopped him cold with a perfect tackle on the three yard line. The Effingham turnover on down gave the ball back to the Tigers.
Paris was not able to drive the long field after the touchdown-saving tackle and, when Effingham got the ball back, Jones found Rob Grant on a nine yard fade to the corner of the end zone. The extra point was good, and Paris was 21-7.
Jones gave the Tigers fits in the first half, and capped off his running/passing performance with another touchdown scramble with a minute left in the half. When the Tigers blocked the extra point, not may fans would have guessed that the missing point would have the Flaming Hearts very concerned in the fourth quarter.
During the 27-7 halftime, Effingham’s band performed on the field while some Paris fans complained grumbled about the fireworks that were set off all too frequently behind the visitor stands. Few thought those fireworks would be silenced in the second half.
The second half belonged to the Paris Tigers.
Sick of play fakes, jet sweeps and number eight running at will through their defense, the Tigers adjusted and did not allow a single point in the second half.
Paris linebackers Jake Keys, Derek Abernathy and David Hamilton began to lay viscous hits on Effingham ball carriers, and set the tone for the rest of the team by doing so. On one particularly good defensive series for Paris, Abernathy knifed in low and de-cleated an Effingham ball carrier in the back field, sending him flipping head over hills before landing a yard short of the line of scrimmage. The Flaming Hearts were forced to punt it back to Paris on a 4th and 10 and deep in Paris territory.
“Our linebackers started flowing and making plays in the second half,” said Paris head coach Mike Brouwer. “Derek Abernathy had a tremendous game. This should prove to the kids what a solid year in the weight room can do for you. Derek is a good example,” Brouwer continued. “Last year he probably couldn’t make that tackle, and he just stepped and made a world of difference, making tackle after tackle on the jet sweep. Jake Keys also did an excellent job, coming up and making tackles in the second half.”
The Paris offense looked much more physical in the second half, and the line began to make holes for the Paris backs.
With 2:20 left in the third quarter, Keys ran through one of those nice holes, broke some tackles and ran right through the middle of the Effingham defense for a 20 yard touchdown. Morris added the extra point, and was back in the game with a 27-14 score.
Paris running back Levi Eslinger had been looking for a little daylight through the entire game. With 11:39 left in the fourth quarter, Eslinger got the ball on run to the right, made one miss, found a seam, and was finally able to unleash his speed, running 68 yards down the sideline for a Paris touchdown. After Morris added another extra point kick, the Tigers found themselves with a 27-21 score and all of the momentum.
The Flaming Hearts thought they had deflated the Tigers on the ensuing kickoff return, when they broke it open and ran it all the way back. They even let off some fireworks. The Paris sideline knew better, though. Their was a flag back on the Effingham 21 yard line for holding. The touchdown was taken off the board and called back.
The teams then traded possessions, with both having to eventually punt the ball away.
Effingham was looking to milk every second they could out of the clock and put the game away on a 4th and six on the Paris 31 yard line with 3:16 left to go.
With both side’s fans louder than they had been the entire night, Jones dropped back to pass, rolled out under pressure and threw down the left side of the field. The Tigers’ Johnnie Dayton intercepted the pass and returned it 12 yards to the Paris 43.
With time running out, Mason was driving the Tigers offense closer and closer to a possible score. Mason had been keeping the Paris offensive drives alive all night with QB sneaks and scrambles for first downs. He did it against with 1:40 left in the game for Paris.
On 4th and three, with 1:28 left to go, Mason snapped the ball, turned and threw it right to a Paris wide receiver. He tried to beat his man to the first down marker, and appeared to have it when he dove with the ball extended. The ball was spotted very close to the first down marker, but a measurement showed it to be just short.
Effingham got the ball back and ran the clock out when they got a first down with their a few dive plays.
Paris came up just short of knocking off the a team that were Apollo conference champs after a 9-0 2007 season. The Tiger completely dominated Effingham in the second half, but a lackluster first half gave the Flaming Hearts just enough cushion to escape with the win.
“The difference was the play of our offensive line and our defensive line in the second half,” Brouwer said after of the second half improvement. “The line blocked, did their responsibilities, and the running backs ran hard. We played a heck of a lot harder in the second half than we did in the first half. We did our jobs defensively and we controlled the ball offensively,” Brouwer noted. “Now we just have to play like that for 48 minutes.”
The Paris Tigers (0-2, 0-1) will try to put together a complete game Friday during their home opener against Apollo conference rival Charleston. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Scoring by quarter
Paris 7 0 7 7 -21
Effingham 14 13 0 0 -27
Rushing
Eslinger: 23-158, Keys: 14-73, Mason 11-29
Passing
Mason: 3-9, 63, TD
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Blame Game wrote on Sep 7, 2008 11:41 AM: