Luke’s two long returns spark Paragould past Manila

Paragould 45, Manila 21

PARAGOULD — Paragould scored on offense, defense and special teams Friday, opening its season with a 45-21 victory over Manila at Ram Stadium.

Alex Luke gave the Rams a lead by returning the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown. After the missed extra point, Zack Flowers kept on a read-option and scored from 45 yards. Following Ricky Salines’ fumble recovery, Flowers scored again to establish a 20-0 first-quarter lead.

Manila answered after Gabe Gonzales drove the Lions to the Paragould 1 late in the first quarter. The sophomore quarterback threw a 4-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to start the second, cutting the margin to 20-7. Manila’s first scoring drive included a tipped completion down the sideline and Gonzales’ 12-yard scramble to the 1. Paragould countered after the kickoff return reached its 44; Kenyatta Laird’s reception and ZK Lanej’s run set up Lanej’s 4-yard touchdown. Amare Williams’ punt return to the Manila 43 launched Paragould’s first-half touchdown drive. Flowers added an 11-yard scoring run with 2:38 left, and Christopher Cruz’s extra point made it 34-7 at halftime.

Manila nearly struck after halftime with a kickoff return to the Paragould 15. Two plays later, Luke intercepted Gonzales and raced 82 yards for a touchdown. Lanej ran in the conversion for a 42-7 lead.

Gonzales answered with his second touchdown pass, this one to Weston Ezell, and Brock Batchelor kicked the extra point. Manila then forced a fumble and returned it for another touchdown; Batchelor’s kick reduced the margin to 42-21.

Paragould controlled the fourth quarter on the ground. Manila’s defense stopped Carver Dilport at the 1 on third-and-goal, so Cruz converted a short field goal for the final points. The Lions also recovered another fumble in the second half, while Paragould answered that takeaway with an interception on the next snap.

Scoring summary

First quarter

• Paragould: Alex Luke 83-yard kickoff return; kick failed — 6-0
• Paragould: Zack Flowers 45-yard run; kick good — 13-0
• Paragould: Flowers rushing touchdown; kick good — 20-0

Second quarter

• Manila: Gabe Gonzales 4-yard touchdown pass; kick good — 20-7
• Paragould: ZK Lanej 4-yard run; kick good — 27-7
• Paragould: Flowers 11-yard run; Cruz kick — 34-7

Third quarter

• Paragould: Luke 82-yard interception return; Lanej conversion run — 42-7
• Manila: Gonzales touchdown pass to Weston Ezell; Brock Batchelor kick — 42-14
• Manila: Fumble return touchdown; Batchelor kick — 42-21

Fourth quarter

• Paragould: Christopher Cruz field goal — 45-21

Players of the game

• Alex Luke, Paragould WR/DB: Two touchdowns covering 165 return yards—an 83-yard kickoff return and an 82-yard interception return.
• Zack Flowers, Paragould QB/FS: Three rushing touchdowns, including scores from 45 and 11 yards.
• ZK Lanej, Paragould RB/LB: Four-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion run, accounting for eight points.
• Gabe Gonzales, Manila QB: Two touchdown passes. He also scrambled 12 yards to the 1 to set up Manila’s first score.
• Christopher Cruz, Paragould K: Converted four extra points and the fourth-quarter field goal, scoring seven points.