The Paris defense traveled all the way to the Kansas City area like it has everywhere else this season.

The Coyotes defeated Northland Christian (1-3) 53-2, allowing 99 total yards and a safety after making a goal line stand. They tallied eight turnovers, finishing with four recovered fumbles and four interceptions.

Going into Week 4, Paris (4-0) ranked second in the state among 8-man football teams with 116 yards allowed per game. Concordia ranks first with 103 yards allowed per game.

“Our defense was on fire tonight,” head coach Cody Carney said. “We had a lot of short fields so we only had 236 yards of offense.”

Chase Kendrick caught a touchdown pass but mainly starred on defense with three interceptions. Kendrick returned two of those for touchdowns and was 10 yards shy of a third pick-six. Still, Kendrick has returned three interceptions for touchdowns in two weeks after having one against Braymer last week.

“He plays one of our outside linebacker spots,” Carney said. “Our defensive coordinator Eric Bordeleau gets a good game plan together for the kids, getting them to watch film to learn tendencies and know certain formations to be ready for this or this. (Kendrick) did a good job of getting where he needed to be when he dropped in coverage.”

Luke Ensor threw for 101 yards and four touchdowns. He went into Week 4 as the co-leader in state 8-man with 14 touchdowns, matching Pattonsburg’s Gage Fortner. Brad Skinner ran for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown and had 75 total yards.

Paris plays a rematch of last year’s district championship game against No. 8 North Shelby (4-0), who went into Week 4 second in rushing yards per game at 385.3 yards, at 7 p.m. tonight at home.

“By far,” Carney said when asked whether North Shelby will be the team’s biggest test so far. “It will be who has more positive plays than the other team.”