Parris is spectacular in any season

From the moment Mason Parris stepped on the field for Lawrenceburg he set the tone for the way football was going to be played at Lawrenceburg. His tenacious demeanor and relentless drive has made a lasting impression on his coaches and teammates as well as the respect of the opposition. Parris will be a junior and he is already carving out his special chapter in Tigers history.

Lawrenceburg LB Mason Parris (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

In 2015 Parris put together an amazing season. In 12 games we was in on 156 total tackles (67 solo), registered 23 tackles for losses, had four sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered five fumbles. That effort earned him IFCA (Indiana Football Coaches Association) Class 3A Junior All-Indiana honors as a sophomore. He was also named the EIAC (Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference) Class 3A Defensive Most Valuable Player. He was quite simply, a one-man wrecking crew.

Parris followed up his performance on the football field with IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) state title at the 220-pound weight class in wrestling going 52-0. It was the first state title in wrestling for Lawrenceburg and first in any sport for the school in the last 30 years. Take a moment to grasp that his is a legacy that is still in its infancy for Parris.

Lawrenceburg head Football Coach Ryan Knigga sums up Parris quite eloquently. “Mason is one of the most humble kids I have ever been around. It is amazing to me how he carries himself not only on the field / mat, but off each of those playing surfaces. Mason is a walking example for kids not only our program, but for our school. Your talking about a kid who was named the EIAC 3A DMVP, team MVP, won a state wrestling championship, has a 4.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and there are plenty more of accolades we could discuss and he is only a sophomore.”

“You would not know any of those things by being around Mason. Mason is a hero to so many of our younger kids in our school corporation. The way he interacts with our younger Tiger Football players and the Youth Wrestling program is amazing. He always makes time for them, and makes their day. This does not come natural for Mason, but he pulls it off very well,” Knigga says.

On the football field several things set Parris apart from his peers. “Mason has a way of getting to the ball. He reads and reacts very well to what he sees. His speed to get to the ball and his strength to finish plays are amazing. He can come downhill and fill the hole or he can run the alley and make plays on the perimeter. He is a student of the game and when you understand what your opponent is trying to do, and you can make plays the way he can, that makes you a great player,” Knigga lauds his young star.

Lawrenceburg LB Mason Parris. The 2015 EIAC 3A DMVP (phot0 by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

“Mason gives you flexibility on defense, there is no hiding that. You are not afraid to call a blitz here and there because you know Mason will cover you up if it goes bad. You also know that Mason will get people in the right alignments up front. You can do somethings behind him in coverage that some would not because you know you have a great run stopper in the box,” Knigga chimes about the linebackers range and depth as a defender.

The 2016 Tigers will be loaded with talent on offense. Parris is a skilled blocker who will see time at tight end and fullback. Knigga would like to incorporate him more into this already powerful and explosive unit. It is a move that could be lethal for Lawrenceburg foes and makes the Tigers a legitimate threat for a deep postseason run.

As good as this team will be on the offensive side of the ball it will be a Parris led defense that will ultimately determine how far Lawrenceburg can actually go in the playoffs. That sounds like a lot to ask of the young man but Parris one of those rare individuals who not only accepts challenges he rises up and answers the call in grand fashion time and time again. “There have been a few here at LHS that were outstanding defensive players. There is no doubt Mason is one of them. I would rank him as one of the best. That is scary. The next two years for him should be exciting. Mason is the real deal,” Knigga states.

Tigers fans are blessed. They should relish this time and enjoy what they are witnessing. Parris is special, kids like him don’t come around often and he’s just getting started. What a couple of falls to come in Lawrenceburg.

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