PARADISE, Texas — Eagle Mountain spoiled Homecoming for No. 2 Paradise on Friday night, rallying in the final minute for a 34-27 upset that handed the Panthers their first loss of the season.
Paradise trailed 20-7 in the second quarter before clawing back. The Panthers tied the game at 26-26 late in the fourth on a 21-yard touchdown pass, then grabbed their first lead on the extra point with just 1:06 remaining.
But Eagle Mountain, in its second season of varsity play, answered with one final drive. Senior running back Terry Starks broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds left, then the Knights converted the two-point try to secure the win.
Paradise head coach Tommy Koch credited his team’s fight but took the loss on himself. “Our kids fought super hard. Our guys were going both ways all night, and I was proud of them,” Koch said. “The loss is on me. I’ve got to have them better prepared. The last drive, we could have made a better call.”
Eagle Mountain head coach Jeremy Mullins praised his team’s resilience. “We finally took a little step tonight,” Mullins said. “How easy would it have been for us to throw in the towel under a minute to go after giving up that score? But it was fun to see a little faith and belief on our end.”
Starks powered the Knights, who are now 2-1, with his second straight 200-yard performance and has topped 400 yards rushing through two games. Quarterback Bryson Vindiola also returned from injury to steady the offense, while the defense forced three turnovers.
Paradise senior Teagan Lambert, crowned Homecoming King during the pregame festivities, said the team has to regroup. “It was a heck of a game,” Lambert said. “We just have to come into the week more prepared, keep God first, and focus on what matters.”
Both teams move to 2-1 entering Week 4.