Wolves Snap Streak Against Bobcats

WESSON – The Co-Lin Football team continued South Division play on Thursday, September 18 while hosting Jones. The No. 14 Wolves never trailed the Bobcats throughout the game on their way to a 31-20 victory which marks the first win against the Bobcats since the 2016 season.

The Wolves defense set the tone early as the Bobcats took the opening kickoff but were forced to punt the ball after a three-and-out on the opening drive. The Wolves offense then took the momentum and marched the ball on an eight play, 73-yard drive capped off by a seven-yard rush by Martavious Boswell (Fort Worth, Texas). The successful PAT by Ty Jones (Summit) gave the Wolves a 7-0 lead with 8:33 remaining.

The Bobcats then responded with a 45-yard touchdown pass that completed a four play, 75-yard drive while the PAT tied the game at 7-7 with 7:05 left in the first quarter. The game remained tied throughout the remainder of the first quarter as both defenses settled in and found ways to stop offensive drives. However, the Wolves defense once again made their presence felt and added a score on the board as they forced a fumble by the Bobcats and Doug Nelson (Hazlehurst) recovered the ball and returned it 47 yards for a score. Another successful PAT gave the Wolves a 14-7 lead with 8:45 left in the second quarter.

The Wolves defense once again looked to make an impact on the ensuing drive by the Bobcats as Lonnie Smith (Jackson) forced a fumble on a sack, but the Bobcats were able to recover the ball. Ultimately the Wolves took the 14-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Wolves received the second half kickoff and Kannon Cato (New Hebron) got the fireworks started early as he returned the ball 33 yards and setup the offense with the ball on the Wolves 42-yard line. The Wolves offense then went on a ten play, 58-yard drive that ate almost five minutes off the clock and was capped by a three-yard scoring rush by Eli Viniard (Bassfield). The successful PAT by Jones increased the Wolves lead to 21-7 with 9:52 left in the third quarter.

The Wolves then added their second touchdown of the quarter on their second possession as Dezmond Ray (Itta Bena) burst through the Bobcats defense and broke loose for a 45-yard scoring rush to end a seven play, 77-yard drive. Another PAT made the Wolves lead, 28-7 with 4:18 remaining.

The Bobcats responded on their next possession with a 37-yard touchdown pass, but the PAT was missed cutting the lead down to 28-13 with 1:51 left on the clock. The Wolves added their final points of the night early in the fourth quarter as Jones hit a 25-yard field goal to end an eight play, 30-yard drive and give the Wolves a 31-13 lead with 9:13 remaining.

The Bobcats then responded with a 14 play, 75-yard drive that was ended with a six-yard touchdown pass while the PAT was good to cut the lead to 31-20 with 3:33 left to play. The Wolves offense then marched down the field and looked to try to add one more score to seal the game away, but the Bobcats defense forced a turnover on downs on their own 29-yard line. The Wolves defense then stepped up and allowed the Bobcats just three yards on the ensuing possession and forced a turnover on downs also. The Wolves offense then kneeled the ball to secure the 31-20 victory.

In his first career start for the Wolves, Eli Viniard was 11-for-19 through the air for 137 yards paired with eight carries for nine yards with one touchdown. Martavious Boswell once again led the rushing attack with his third straight game of 100+ yards as he had 20 carries for 103 yards with one touchdown while Dezmond Ray had 53 yards on five carries with one touchdown.

Kendarious Porter (Magee) led the receiving corps in terms of yardage with one reception for 35 yards while Trevor Fortenberry (Brookhaven) hauled in four receptions for 29 yards with Matt Mayfield (Sunset, LA) had two receptions for 27 yards. Jermarj Bell (Mound Bayou), Ca'Ron Williams (Natchez), Kamron Pittman (Clarksdale), and Darnell O'Quinn (New Orleans) had one reception each.

Ty Jones had an excellent night in the kicking game as he accounted for seven points going 4-for-4 on PATs and 1-for-1 on field goals. He also averaged 64.3 yards across six kickoffs with five going for touchbacks and averaged 39 yards across four punts with two going inside the 20-yard line and a longest punt of 51 yards.

The Wolves defense shined again as they held the Bobcats 14 first downs and 284 yards of total offense including 248 passing yards and 36 rushing yards along with forcing two turnovers. Archie Chambers (New Orleans) led the unit with nine total tackles while Doug Nelson had eight total tackles, a 47-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, and an interception. Bryce Hooker (Biloxi) had six total tackles and led the team in tackles for loss with 1.5 while Tenerrean Jackson (Cleveland) and Lonnie Smith had five total tackles each with Smith adding a forced fumble to his night. Smith and Tashawn Johnson (Byram) led the team in sacks with one each while Sentario Willis (Hazlehurst) and Joshua Davis (Mendenhall) had a half sack each.

Co-Lin is now 3-1 overall, 1-1 in South Division play, and will return to action on the road to face off against Southwest on Thursday, September 25. Kickoff between the No. 14 Wolves and the Bears is set for 7 p.m., at Hurst Stadium in Summit.