Manning accounts for four touchdowns as Valley View shuts out Paragould

Published On: September 28, 2026Categories: High School, News

Valley View 35, Paragould 0

JONESBORO — Levi Manning threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores as Valley View defeated Paragould 35–0 Friday in the 5A-East opener at Central Dealership Stadium.

Manning moved to quarterback after Taylor Hyneman left during the first quarter. Valley View broke a scoreless tie in the second quarter, led 13–0 at halftime and scored on its opening possession after the break. The Blazers improved to 3–1 overall and 1–0 in conference; Paragould fell to 2–2 and 0–1.

The Rams reached Valley View’s 17 on their opening drive, but the Blazers stopped Zack Flowers on fourth-and-5. J Edgar then intercepted Hyneman to give Paragould the ball at the Valley View 41. Max Taylor’s tackle for loss helped force third-and-9, and the Blazers intercepted Flowers on the next play.

Paragould kept the game scoreless through the first quarter. Dylan Kriske and Van Cox combined to tackle Quinn Gartman for a loss late in the period. Gartman completed a 19-yard pass to Manning early in the second quarter, but the Rams stopped the ensuing fourth-down play.

Manning finally connected on a fourth-and-11 touchdown pass with 8:27 left in the half. Trent Dunham’s extra-point attempt hit the upright, leaving Valley View ahead 6–0.

Karver Dillport’s 12-yard reverse and Hunter Burk’s 11-yard reception produced consecutive first downs on Paragould’s next possession. The Rams reached the Valley View 35 before the drive ended with another interception.

The Blazers then drove 71 yards. Gatlin Hicks carried from midfield to the Paragould 19, and Manning followed with an 11-yard run to the 8. Manning finished the possession with a short touchdown run around the right side. Dunham’s kick made it 13–0 with 2:11 remaining before halftime.

Valley View opened the third quarter with a 60-yard touchdown drive. Manning’s 3-yard scoring pass and Dunham’s extra point extended the lead to 20–0.

Paragould stopped another scoring threat later in the quarter after Valley View took over following an unsuccessful fake punt. Cox tackled Manning for a 2-yard loss, and, after the Blazers reached the 10, Rayton Ysawa stopped a run for no gain. An incomplete fourth-down pass ended the possession.

Manning added a 35-yard touchdown run on third-and-6 with 11:05 left in the fourth quarter. He then completed a two-point conversion pass to Jaxon Barnes for a 28–0 lead.

Flowers later ran for a first down at the Valley View 33, but a fumble ended that Paragould possession. The Blazers’ defense delivered another fourth-down stop with 2:50 remaining, tackling Flowers for a loss on fourth-and-1.

Brody Wooten scored on a 26-yard keeper on the next play. Dunham added the extra point with 2:41 left, completing a shutout of a Paragould offense that had scored 130 points in its first three games.

Scoring summary

First quarter: No scoring.

Second quarter

8:27 — Valley View: Levi Manning touchdown pass (kick failed). Valley View 6–0.
2:11 — Valley View: Manning touchdown run (Trent Dunham kick). Valley View 13–0.

Third quarter

Valley View: Manning 3-yard touchdown pass (Dunham kick). Valley View 20–0.

Fourth quarter

11:05 — Valley View: Manning 35-yard touchdown run (Jaxon Barnes pass from Manning for two points). Valley View 28–0.
2:41 — Valley View: Brody Wooten 26-yard touchdown run (Dunham kick). Valley View 35–0.

Players who stood out

Levi Manning, Valley View: Two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, a two-point conversion pass and a 19-yard reception. His 35-yard touchdown run came on third-and-6.
Gatlin Hicks, Valley View: Carried from midfield to the Paragould 19 to set up Valley View’s second touchdown.
Brody Wooten, Valley View: Scored on a 26-yard keeper with 2:41 remaining.
Max Taylor, Valley View: Tackled Zack Flowers for a loss to force third-and-9 immediately before a first-quarter interception.
J Edgar, Paragould: Intercepted Taylor Hyneman in the first quarter, giving the Rams possession at the Valley View 41.
Van Cox, Paragould: Shared a tackle for loss with Dylan Kriske, dropped Manning for a 2-yard loss in the third quarter and tackled Wooten for a 1-yard loss in the fourth.
Rayton Ysawa, Paragould: Helped stop Gartman on fourth down early in the second quarter and held a runner to no gain during the third-quarter goal-line stand.
Karver Dillport and Hunter Burk, Paragould: Dillport’s 12-yard reverse and Burk’s 11-yard reception produced consecutive first downs on a second-quarter drive.