Wolves Cruise Past Warriors

Wolves Cruise Past Warriors

DECATUR – The Co-Lin Football team played their final regular season road game against East Central on Thursday, October 20. The Wolves beat the Warriors by a final of 26-14.

The Warriors got on the board first with a 28-yard field goal ending a five play, 27-yard drive setup by the Warriors recovering a fumble by the Wolves on the opening kickoff making the score 3-0 with 12:27 left in the first quarter. The Wolves responded on their ensuing possession with a four-yard touchdown rush by sophomore running back Bobby Shanklin, Jr. (Macon), capping off a 12 play, 75-yard drive. The PAT by freshman kicker Corey Case (Brookhaven) was blocked giving the Wolves a 6-3 lead with 5:53 remaining in the quarter.

The Wolves next score came early in the second quarter as freshman running back Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) scampered in from 15 yards out to complete a two play, 17-yard drive. The PAT by Case was good increasing the Wolves lead to 13-3 with 10:49 left in the quarter. The Wolves final touchdown of the half came via the pass as sophomore quarterback DeVon Tott (Mandeville, LA) connected with freshman receiver Jaylen Smith (Jacksonville, FL) on a 57-yard catch and run scoring play ending a seven play, 97-yard drive. The PAT by Case was good giving the Wolves a 20-3 with 54 seconds remaining in the half, which held as the teams went to the locker rooms for halftime.

The Warriors added a 38-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to cut the Wolves lead down to 20-6. The final touchdown for the Wolves came from Shanklin, Jr., as he powered the ball into the endzone from one yard out. The second scoring rush for the running back capped off an 11 play, 43-yard drive setup by an interception of the Warriors quarterback by freshman defensive back Elijah Short (Columbus). However, the Warriors blocked the PAT for the second time of the game and returned the ball 97 yards for two points making the score 26-8 with 9:59 left in the game.

The Warriors lone touchdown of the game came on the final play as they scored on a 59-yard pass with time running out to end the game with the final score of 26-14.

DeVon Tott completed 7 of 16 pass attempts for 138 yards with one touchdown and one interception paired with two carries for 41 yards. Johnnie Daniels led the rushing attack with 97 yards one 12 carries with one touchdown while sophomore running back Kyjuan Herndon added 63 yards on 14 carries and Bobby Shanklin, Jr., had 45 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns.

Jaylen Smith led the receiving corps with one reception for 57 yards with one touchdown while sophomore receiver Tyquan Henderson (Canton) had four receptions for 55 yards and freshman receiver O'Ryan James (Houma, LA) had two receptions for 26 yards.

Freshman defensive back Dre Ross (Brookhaven) led the Wolves defense with 11 total tackles while sophomore linebacker Jamal Pye (Byhalia) added eight total tackles. Sophomore linebacker Ja'Len Sims (Birmingham), sophomore defensive end Kadarius Miller (Magnolia), and freshmen defensive backs Elijah Short (Columbus) and Kaden Dukes (Petal) had five total tackles each.

Co-Lin improves to 4-4 overall, 2-3 in conference play, and will finish the 2022 regular season hosting Hinds on Thursday, October 27. The action between the Eagles and the Wolves kicks off at 6:30 p.m., at Stone Stadium. The game will be a Pink Out game as well as Sophomore Night for the Wolves.