Lions open 2024 season with loss at Paragould

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection Team

PARAGOULD - Manila (0-1) went on the road to open the 2024 football season at Paragould and despite a game effort came up short by a 28-7 score to the Class 5A Rams.

Adien Sharp

While the game was not artistically pretty, the Rams had the better of things throughout the game. Manila was hurt by an early turnover, fumbling the ball away on its initial possession and more than 10 false start penalties.

“We killed ourselves with penalties,” said Manila head coach Ben Fisher. “Instead of it being second and four it would be second and 15. We are just not built to overcome that. We have to do a better job of staying a head of the chains.”

The Lions defense also played hard but made too many mental mistakes. “Penalties on our defense hurt us as well,” said Fisher. Fisher also said the Lions defense has to play sound football. “Coach (Lorin) Morgan said we had something like 20 missed tackles. We have to play better on that side of the ball.”

The Rams built a 21-0 lead and the Lions weren’t able to mount any type of comeback.

Paragould’s Cole Chipman led all rushers in the game with 191 yards and a score on 15 carries. The Rams Mikey Pekrul also had a score and racked up 83 yards on 11 carries and Jacks Starnes also got the ball in the end zone for Paragould (1-0).

The Lions (0-1) struggled most of the game to move the football with Manila’s only score coming in the fourth quarter when Adien Sharp picked up a Rams fumble and returned the ball down to the seven yard line. Two plays later, the Lions KD Tipton scored on a 3-yard run and the successful point after kick accounted for all seven of the Lions points.

“You have to give Paragould credit. They made the plays when they had too,” said Fisher. “But we didn’t help ourselves. We have to play sound football if we are going to have success.”

The Lions now host Marked Tree (0-1) Friday night. The Indians were 48-30 losers to 3-3A conference member Newport last week. Paragould travels to Kennett, Mo. Friday.