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A tall order
By Van Hilburn
Published November 12, 2009
The Paris Wildcats have a tall order facing them when they take the field tonight against fifth-ranked Argyle in a Class 3A Division II bi-district contest.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. at McKinney’s Ron Poe Stadium.
After a disappointing 28-21 loss to Van Alstyne last week for the District 10-3A title, the Wildcats (6-4, 4-1) must now face one of the toughest teams in Class 3A in the first round of the playoffs.
“We have put the Van Alstyne loss behind us. We know what we’re going to have to do this week and our kids are up for the challenge,” said Paris High third-year coach Travis Smith. “We’re going to do what we have to do, and play as hard as we can to get a win.”
Argyle (10-0, 5-0), like Van Alstyne, capped a perfect regular season last week, finishing 10-0 after beating 2008 state runner-up Celina, 29-14, to claim the District 9-3A title.
Argyle beat Paris, 41-21, in the bi-district round in 2008 on a very windy night at Little Elm’s Lobo Complex. The Wildcats clawed their way back from a 27-0 deficit and pulled to within a touchdown at 27-21 with just over four minutes left in that game, but the Eagles scored back-to-back touchdowns in the final minutes to put the game away.
“We got beat for 45 minutes in that game, but there was three minutes in there where we played as well as any team could have played. Our kids know that if we play well the entire game, we have a chance. If not, we’ll be getting the basketballs out.”
Argyle lost to Kaufman in the second round of the 2008 season, 21-16, finishing 7-5 overall.
The winner of the Paris/Argyle game advances to the area round to face the Lake Worth/Kaufman winner.
The Eagles are averaging 33 points and allowing 12 a contest. The Eagles are averaging 334.6 yards a game and allowing only 206, fifth best in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The closest the Eagles came to defeat in district was in the 9-3A opener against Prosper, a game they won, 17-14. It was the only loss by Prosper (9-1), which plays North Lamar (3-7) in the Class 3A Division I first-round game on Friday at Rockwall.
Leading the defense is one of the state’s top linemen, Blue Chip recruit and three-year starter David Johnson (6-2, 265, sr.), who has verbally committed to Texas Christian University.
“He may be the single best defensive lineman in the state,” Smith said of Johnson.
Offensively, the Eagles offensive attack is led by sophomore Argyle quarterback Austin Aune who has completed 83 of 141 attempts for 1,004 yards and 12 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions. Junior quarterback Chad Hedlund has completed 46 of 90 attempts for 645 yards and six touchdowns, and thrown six interceptions.
Their main target is senior Lance Sutton, who has 37 catches for 588 yards and five touchdowns.
Paris is averaging 36.7 points and allowing 25.2 a contest, while averaging 362.4 and giving up 287.5 yards a game.
The Wildcats have done a good job balancing the run and the pass, but they have still relied on big plays, either on the ground or through the air, to score.
Sophomore quarterback Corban Taylor is 79 yards away from breaking the school’s single-season passing record set last year by Quin Rollerson. Taylor has completed 100 of 185 attempts for 1,641 yards and thrown 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Sophomore Tavarius Williams has 29 receptions for 631 yards and eight scores, while senior running back Tyrell Smith has 20 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Dominique Mitchell, Tevin Gray and Darian Jones all have more than two touchdown catches.
Tyrell Smith finished the regular season with 1,185 all-purpose yards. He has a team-high 826 yards rushing on 116 carries and 10 touchdowns, while senior running back Aaron Ethridge has carried the ball 99 times for 663 yard and 12 scores.
Defensively, senior end Cedarius Hill leads the team in tackles with 87, including 39 solos. He has 15 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
Sophomore Brandon Ortega has 73 tackles, including 47 solos. Senior free safety Dominique Mitchell has 66 tackles, including 47 solos, while junior linebacker Cory Battle has 54 tackles and linebacker Jerred Guera has 51. Travis Smock and Jamal Wooten follow with 40 and 37.
Cornerback Equettis Jenkins and Battle lead the team in interceptions with four, while linebacker Kendall King has three and Mitchell has two. The Wildcats have picked off 15 passes this season and returned four for touchdowns.
Paris’ defense and special teams have accounted for eight touchdowns, led by King’s four TD returns.
The Eagles return six offensive and six defensive starters from last year’s team.
Argyle eighth-year head coach Todd Rodgers has compiled a 60-24 record at the school and is trying to lead his team to its first state title. The Eagles lost in the Class 2A Division I finals to Newton in 2005.
Argyle is making its sixth consecutive playoff appearance with the four coming as a Class 3A school.
Travis Smith, in his third year as head coach, is trying to guide the Wildcats to their first playoff win since they claimed the Class 4A state title in 1988.
PARIS HIGH WILDCATS
Tentative starting lineup for Paris Wildcats:
OFFENSE
Quarterback - Corban Taylor, 6-0, 166, soph.
Receiver - Dominique Mitchell - 6-0, 175, sr., or Equettis Jenkins. 6-1, 180, sr.
Receiver - Tavairus Williams, 5-9, 155, soph.
Receiver - Tevin Gray, 5-8, 165, jr.
Receiver - Darian Jones, 5-5, 155, sr., Cory Battle, 5-10, 170, jr.
Running back - Tyrell Smith, 5-9, 160, sr., or Aaron Ethridge, 5-9, 135, sr.
Left tackle - Dee Bogan, 6-3, 220, soph.
Left guard - Dylan Cathey, 6-4, 295, sr.
Center - Tez Allen, 6-0, 255, sr.
Right guard - James Henderson, 5-10, 240, sr.
Right tackle - Eric Campbell, 6-5, 275, sr.
DEFENSE
End - Cedarius Hill - 6-0, 180, sr.
End - Jamal Wooten, 6-1, 240, sr.
Tackle - Jordan Gill, 6-2, 310, sr.
Noseguard - Dylan Cathey, 6-4, 295, sr.
ILB - Jerrad Guarra, 5-4, 230, sr.
ILB - Brandon Ortega, 5-8, 155, soph.
OLB - Kendall King, 6-2, 180, sr.
OLB - Cory Battle, 5-10, 170, jr.
Cornerback - Equettis Jenkins. 6-1, 180, sr.
Cornerback - Kendrick Smith, 5-8, 150, sr. or Tevin Gray
Free safety - Dominique Mitchell, 6-0, 175, sr.
Kicker - Gabriel Vera, 5-8, 130, soph., and Andreas Rivera, 5-11, 155, jr.
Punter - Cedarius Hill - 6-0, 180, sr.
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