Paradise linebacker attempts to take down Vernon running back Tru Gipson at Lion Stadium Friday. The Panthers cashed in on contributions from all three phases, taking down the Lions 29-22 in the District 4-3AI opener. BRENDAN MARCHAND | WCMESSENGER

Paradise got its first taste of District 4-3AI Friday, and the Panthers look ready to run through the buzzsaw league after holding off Vernon on the Lions’ home turf.

Knotted up at 22 apiece and less than 2 minutes to play, the Paradise (4-1, 1-0) defense made a stand. Defensive back Layne Smith emerged from a scrum with a loose ball at the 1:49 mark in the fourth quarter, which the Panthers turned into instant offense.

Smith got the Panthers down to the 4-yard line on a 62-yard crossing route from quarterback Ayden Olalde, and running back Luke Brown broke into the end zone from the 2 a few plays later. The go ahead-score was the last of the night, with Paradise claiming its first district win against Vernon 29-22.

Paradise coach Tommy Koch said his team embodied the team’s 2025 saying, “Tough like Jesus” in the road win that went down to the wire.

“Every day we talk about what that means, not just the physical aspect, but the spiritual and mental side of it. It’s about being able to handle the ups and downs of a playoff-type game,” Koch said. “We told the kids all week it would come down to the fourth quarter, so don’t blink. As far as a confidence boost, we know we’ll see these games and situations down the road in playoffs, so it was great.”

Vernon got on the board first with a 13-yard touchdown run from running back Jamari Chance at the 6:28 mark in the first quarter after the Lions forced a three-and-out to start the game.

Four minutes later, the Paradise offense was backed all the way up to its own 1-yard line after successful punt coverage from Vernon. The 99 yards weren’t eaten up nearly all on one trick play.

In the first play of the second quarter, the Panthers opted for a double pass. Camden Walker caught a pass from Olalde, then launched it downfield to a wide open Luke Brown who sprinted 81 yards into the end zone. Paradise converted on a 2-point try via Olalde to Teagan Lambert.

“I give credit to my 4-month-old son for that one. The family was hanging out over the weekend with the baby and I was just kind of dreaming up trick plays and thought we might be able to get that one to go against their safeties,” Koch said. “It came earlier than I probably wanted, but we needed a jumpstart to our offense.”

The Panthers gave up another score on Vernon quarterback Ty Scott’s scramble to the end zone from 42 yards out on the Lions’ ensuing drive. Scott was the game’s leading rusher, recording 78 yards on 16 carries.

The Paradise offense continued to struggle, but receiver/defensive back Elijah Jennings pulled the team out of its rut. He fielded a Vernon punt and took it 73 yards for a score at the 4:10 mark in the second quarter, slicing and dicing his way up the field to help the Panthers pull ahead by one point.

When asked if he thought he could take the punt to the house, Jennings replied, “Of course,” with no hesitation.

“I just grabbed the ball, put my trust in God and took it to the end zone,” he said. “We knew it would be tight with [Vernon], but I’m just glad I could help us win.”

The Paradise special teams made another game-altering play before the half closed. After punting the ball to Vernon with 1:50 to go in the half, linebacker Cash Watson recovered a near-dead ball that brushed up against a Vernon special teamer’s leg. One minute later, Olalde rushed in from the 1-yard line to put the Panthers up 22-14 going into the half.

“Half-serious, half-joking I always tell the kids they’re not quarterbacks, right guards or whatever — they’re football players. That means you play all three phases,” Koch said. “It’s something we practice and watch film on all week. I told our guys we would have the advantage on special teams if we executed well there.”

Paradise held the Lions scoreless over the next 12 minutes, but Vernon was able to tie the score at 22 midway through the fourth quarter. Paradise was called for defensive holding, giving the Lions fresh downs around the goal line where Tyce Payne ran in from the 5, followed by a successful 2-point conversion.

Late in the contest with Vernon marching downfield, it became the Layne Smith show.

In the final 2 minutes of the game, he recovered a Vernon fumble, caught a 62-yard pass to set up Paradise’s game winner and picked off the Lions to put the game on ice.

“It’s obviously tiring, but I’m helped out with all the guys we have on defense. We have the best in 3A,” Smith said. “And then of course my quarterback, Ayden Olalde, is always making plays out there on offense and so is Luke Brown.”

Added Koch: “We talk about the importance of our seniors and their leadership, and Layne is doing that right now. He doesn’t get many breaks with everything he’s asked to do on the field, but it’s crucial to this team. We can count on him to make a big play when we need one.”

Olalde was the leading passer on the night, going 7-of-19 for 114 yards. Brown was the top target for Paradise, snagging just one ball apiece from Olalde and Walker, but gaining 93 yards receiving.

The Panthers outpaced the Lions by only five yards of total offense (277-272), but the special teams masterclass put Paradise over the top.

Paradise hosts Bowie at Panther Stadium 7 p.m. on Oct. 3. The Jackrabbits (3-2, 0-1) fell 27-0 against Peaster on Friday.

“We set the tone for the rest of the year,” Smith said. “I think we can come back and be district champions.”

Key takeaways

Special teams play is the biggest winner and loser of the night

Don’t count out the third phase of football. It may just win you — or lose you — a game someday.

Jennings’ 73-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter was the most important play of the game. The special teams score put Paradise ahead by a point and gave the team a much-needed dose of energy. With Paradise’s offense stalling for the minutes leading up to that play, it gave the Panthers a boost when they needed it the most.

On the flipside, Vernon’s inability to stop Jennings put the Lions in a hole that was hard to climb out of. And the turnover a few minutes later on a near-dead ball turned into punt return disaster didn’t help either, which Paradise converted into an Olalde rushing touchdown before the first half expired.

Without those plays, the good and the bad, this game could’ve turned out much different.

Ty Scott is the real deal

Vernon quarterback Ty Scott is more than just a scrambling passer. He is a human joystick.

The senior play-caller routinely found his way out heavy pressure from Paradise’s front seven, often emerging from a group of bodies that most spectators had checked out on 5 seconds prior. Even with three Paradise defenders spying, he was still chewing up yards that probably weren’t supposed to be available for him to take.

And in space, Scott was hard to contain. His lateral movements left a few Panthers in the Lion Stadium turf Friday night. His shift and speed also opened up the Vernon passing game at times.

Trick plays are worth a gamble

Paradise was 2-for-3 on trick plays on the night, and that proved to be enough.

The Panthers put an exclamation point on their 99-yard, second quarter drive with a double-pass to get on the board.

Olalde tossed a pass to Walker, who then evaded a defender, let another hang around his legs and hit a wide open Luke Brown near midfield on his respective pass. Brown showed that he may be the fastest player in the region after catching the ball, where he dusted the entire Vernon defense en route to an 81-yard touchdown.

The Panthers also converted on a 2-point try via a receiving score by linebacker Teagan Lambert. Paradise’s only miss on the night was a surprise onside kick that couldn’t dribble far enough, after which Vernon score with favorable field position.

Layne Smith is a gamer

Paradise coach Tommy Koch said that wide receiver/safety Layne Smith probably plays 120 snaps a game. But his production never seems to drop.

Smith was the clutch man for the Panthers Friday, recovering a fumble in crunch time, catching a 60-plus yard bomb from Olalde to set up a go-ahead Brown touchdown, and sealing the game with an interception.

First district road test is a confidence booster

Paradise’s gauntlet of a district has only just begun, but it started with proof that the Panthers travel well.

The Panthers still have to make stops at Iowa Park and Ponder for District 4-3AI play, but the Friday win in Vernon will have them ready to walk into any stadium in Texas.

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