Paris Football Pre-Season Outlook

Andrew Wells is a 2023 Paris High School graduate who is attending Arkansas Tech University and is Majoring in Heath and Physical Education/Teaching and Coaching

The Paris Eagles open up the 2025 football season at home against Waldron on Friday, August 29th. They finished last season with just under 2,000 passing yards and over 1,500 yards on the ground. The Eagles and Head Coach Jeff Weaver look to improve on a 4-6 overall record and a 3-4 conference record from 2024. After their first playoff appearance in three seasons momentum is on their side as they head into the 2025 season. 

On offense Paris returns a solid core of offensive talent. Starting quarterback Josh Honea completed 57% of his passes for 1,298 yards, 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Honea also added 2 rushing touchdowns. His 2024 backup Dawson Bradford contributed with a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Starting junior high quarterback Athan Wells moves up and will add depth to the position. The Eagles ground game is powered by senior Demitri Capo who ran for a team leading 634 yards, averaging 6.34 yards per carry. Capo was able to find the endzone 11 times last fall. Though the Eagles lose 2024 senior Jestin Churchman, their second-leading rusher from last year, they return a hard runner Landon Robberson who will keep the backfield strong. Three of the top five pass catchers for Paris are gone, but seniors Jayden Carter, Alex and Lawson Wells, and Jude Rainwater will try to take on the load. Carter was third on the team in receiving yards with 23 catches and 3 touchdowns. Alex Wells had just over 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Brock and Harley Barnhill will both play their first senior high seasons. Brock was injured last year and was unable to play, while Harley moves up from junior high. Sophomore Ty Farmer also joins the varsity roster this year and is expected to play a role. Up front, senior Blaine Maddox returns to anchor the offensive line. He will be supported by John Salgado, Brady Bumgartner, Joel Johnson, and Bryce Williams. Moving up is Dalton Farnham who looks to make an early impact in the trenches. 

The defense for Paris brings back key contributors, especially in the front seven. Defensive lineman Whitman Patton finished second on the team in tackles for loss with 7. With him returns a strong front in Maddox, Bradford, and Bumgartner. Linebacker Joel Johnson had a standout season leading the team in total tackles (85) and tackles for loss (14) in 2024. The linebacker corps has a lot of depth with Robberson, Drayden Wilkerson, Capo, Salgado, Farnham, Farmer, and Isaac Hampton who will rotate at the position. Cornerbacks Rainwater, Wesley Massey, and the Barnhill brothers will play their part in the secondary and try to shut down opposing teams passing attack. At safety Jayden Carter will be another two way player. Carter was third on the team in tackles last year totaling 56 and intercepting 2 passes. Sophomore Athan Wells and his brother Alex Wells will aid him in the defensive backfield. Overall Paris returns a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Hootens has Paris ranked second in the 3A-4 conference, and they look to overtake conference frontrunner Glen Rose. If the Eagles can build off of last year’s playoff berth this should be another great season for Paris football.