Honea Passes for over 300 yards in Eagles Win

Andrew Wells

Paris Alumni and

Arkansas Tech Student

The Paris Eagles are now 5-1, which is more wins than they’ve had in each of the past three seasons. After their road win against Perryville last week, they improved to 3-0 in conference play. The game finished close, with the Eagles outsourcing the Mustangs 19-14. 

Paris struck first in the opening quarter with a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Honea to Ty Farmer. After a missed PAT, the Eagles led 6-0. Farmer found the end zone again in the second quarter on a 31-yard touchdown reception, but the two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, making it 12-0 at the half. 

In the fourth quarter, Paris added another touchdown–this time a 4-yard pass to Jayden Carter–which stretched the lead to 19-0. Perryville rallied late, scoring once early in the fourth quarter and again with just two seconds left on the clock, but the Eagles held on for the 19-14 victory. 

Offensively, this was Paris’ second-lowest scoring game of the season, due largely to the 15 penalties they accumulated for 155 yards–seven of those being 15-yard flags. In comparison, Perryville was penalized just eight times, with only two 15-yarders. 

Despite the setbacks, quarterback Josh Honea completed 21 of 32 passes for 307 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Receiver Jayden Carter led the room with 10 catches for 181 yards and a score. Trailing him was Ty Farmer, who finished with three receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns. 

This was the first time a conference opponent has scored two or more touchdowns against the Eagles this season. Regardless, the defense is still holding opponents to just 11 points per game. 

Two-way standout Jayden Carter contributed eight tackles and two pass breakups. Linebacker Joel Johnson led the team with nine tackles, followed by defensive lineman Whitman Patton with seven. For the second straight week, linebacker Dalton Farnam came up with an interception, and Harley Barnhill added one of his own. 

This Friday, October 17th, the Eagles will host Jessieville. While the Lions are just 1-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play, they’re not to be taken lightly. Their conference losses came against conference favorite Glen Rose and a four-win Magnet Cove team. Outside of conference play, they fell to 2A Mount Ida, 4A Harmony Grove, and undefeated 3A Mayflower. Their lone win was a blowout over 3A-4 opponent Two Rivers. 

Jessieville is hunting for a second conference victory, and this matchup could prove to be a test for Paris. If the Eagles come out on top, they’ll move to 4-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2021-22 season.