Wolves Dominate Tigers in Season Opener

WESSON – The Co-Lin Football team opened the 2025 season playing host to Coahoma on Thursday, August 28. The No. 9 Wolves controlled every aspect of the game on their way to a dominant 42-3 season opening victory.

The scoring started early for the Wolves as they took the opening kickoff and went on a nine play, 69-yard scoring drive capped off by a 22-yard pass from Jaylen Pettway (Jacksonville, FL) to Ca'Ron Williams (Natchez). A successful PAT by Ty Jones (Summit) gave the Wolves a 7-0 lead.

The Wolves scored on their next possession of the game as Pettway threw for his second touchdown of the game, this time connecting with Jordan Richardson (Gainesville, FL) from 24 yards out. However, the PAT was missed making the lead 13-0. The Wolves then added a safety to their scoring total after the Bulldogs lined up for a punt and the snap sailed over the punter's head increasing the lead to 15-0 with 4:22 left in the first quarter.

The final touchdown of the first quarter came on the next possession for the Wolves after a 39-yard kickoff return by Jermarj Bell (Mound Bayou) set up a short field at the Tigers 26-yard line. Dezmond Ray (Itta Bena) punched the ball in on a one-yard rush to complete a five-play drive. Another successful PAT gave the Wolves a 22-0 lead with 2:12 remaining.

The scoring trend continued for the Wolves as they took their third drive of the game and went 57 yards on eight plays capped off by a four-yard pass from Eli Viniard (Bassfield) to Matt Mayfield (Sunset, LA). Another PAT success increased the lead to 29-0 with 12:02 left in the second quarter. The Wolves defense continued their strong play on the ensuing drive as they forced the fourth straight punt attempt by the Tigers in as many drives setting up the Wolves offense on their own 21-yard line.

The Wolves then scored on their fourth straight possession to start the game as Ray scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from four yards out, to end a ten play, 79-yard drive while another PAT gave the Wolves a 36-0 lead with 3:31 left in the first half. The Tigers then looked to possibly get into scoring position late in the half, but linebacker Lonnie Smith (Jackson) picked off a Tigers pass at the Wolves 34-yard line to end the drive. The Wolves then ran out the clock to end the first half and hold a 36-0 lead.

The lone touchdown in the second half came on a three-yard rush by Eli Viniard midway in the third quarter to cap off a seven play, 59-yard drive while the PAT was missed making the lead, 42-0 with 5:12 remaining. The lone scored for the Tigers came on a 20-yard field goal making the score, 42-3 with 6:30 on the clock in the fourth quarter. The Wolves then ran out the clock to seal the 42-3 victory.

The Wolves offense amassed 32 first downs and were a combined 21-27 in the passing game for 283 yards and rushed the ball 37 times for 204 yards for a total offense of 487 yards. Jaylen Pettway completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 198 yard with two touchdowns while Eli Viniard was a perfect 8-for-8 for 85 yards with one touchdown while carrying the ball three times for eight yards with one touchdown. Dezmond Ray led the rushing attack with 13 attempts for 68 yards with two touchdowns paired with three receptions for 25 yards while Ja'Quan Bentley (Thomaston, GA) had 60 yards on six carries, Martavious Boswell (Fort Worth, TX) had seven carries for 36 yards while adding one reception for 29 yards, and Kendarious Porter (Magee) had 34 yards on six carries.

Matt Mayfield led the receiving corps with six receptions for 75 yards with one touchdown while Jordan Richardson had two receptions for 37 yards with one touchdown and Ca'Ron Williams had 29 yards on two catches with one touchdown. The Wolves had ten total players make receptions as Jabraxton Boone (Forest) and Darnell O'Quinn (New Orleans, LA) had two receptions each with Kannon Cato (New Hebron), Trevor Fortenberry (Brookhaven), and Jermarj Bell had one reception each during the game.

The Wolves defense had a strong showing in the season opener holding the Tigers to just seven first downs and 173 yards of total offense including just 25 rushing yards. Lonnie Smith, Josiah Vaughn (Gulfport), and Nehemiah McCloud (Havana, FL) were the leading tacklers with four total tackles each while Smith and Fred Dampeer (Mendenhall) combined for a half sack each. Mike Williams (Natchez), Rakeem Davis (Port Gibson), and Joe Doston (Tampa, FL) had three tackles each. Doston and McCloud led the team in tackles for loss with one and a half apiece while Smith, Dampeer, and Joshua Davis (Mendenhall) had one tackle for loss each. Vaughn, Davis, and Doug Nelson (Hazlehurst) had one pass breakup each while Davis also had two quarterback hurries.

Ty Jones was 4-for-6 on PATs during the game and averaged 60.9 yards on seven kickoffs with one touchback while he had no punting stats as the team was not forced to punt the ball throughout the game.

Co-Lin is now 1-0 overall and will return to action hosting Holmes on Thursday, September 4. Kickoff between the Bulldogs and the Wolves is set for 6:30 p.m., at Stone Stadium in Wesson.