Wolves Run Away from Trojans for Second Straight Win

WESSON – The Co-Lin Football team returned to action hosting Mississippi Delta on Thursday, September 14. The Wolves beat the Trojans, 34-7, to move to 2-0 on the season.

The Wolves defense took the field first as the Trojans received the opening kickoff and the unit forced a three and out by the Trojans offense to give the Wolves offense their first drive.

The Wolves took advantage of that opening possession and put together an 11 play, 48-yard scoring drive capped off by an eight-yard touchdown rush by Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs). The successful PAT by Brandon Gilliam (Vicksburg) made the score, 7-0, with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter.

The Wolves special teams then took advantage of a mistake by the Trojans recovering a live ball on the ensuing kickoff as the Trojans failed to field the kickoff on their own nine-yard line giving the Wolves a second straight possession.

The possession was just one play as DeVon Tott (Mandeville, LA) found Dakota Thomas (Snellville, GA) in the endzone for a touchdown. Another successful PAT by Gilliam increased the Wolves lead to 14-0 with 7:17 left.

That score held throughout the remainder of the first quarter, but the Trojans cut the lead down to 14-7 after a 94-yard catch and run touchdown early in the second quarter. However, the Wolves responded as they scored on their next possession on a seven play, 42-yard drive that was capped off with Gilliam's first of two field goals. The 39-yard kick increased the Wolves lead to 17-7 with 8:09 remaining in the first half.

The Wolves offense got the ball back late in the second half after the Wolves defense forced a 44-yard field goal by the Trojans that came up short. The ensuing 12 play, 68-yard drive was capped off by Gilliam's second field goal, this time from 22 yards out, to give the Wolves a 20-7 lead as time expired in the second quarter to go to halftime.

The Wolves opened the second half with possession and looked to increase their lead with the drive, but Tott was picked off in the endzone to keep the score at 20-7. Then the Wolves defense forced a punt after giving up one first down on the Trojans drive, but a fumble on the punt return gave the Trojans the ball back deep in the Wolves territory.

Once again, the Wolves defense held their ground and forced another field goal attempt by the Trojans that missed wide left giving the ball back to the Wolves offense on their own 20-yard line. The Wolves offense responded on the ensuing possession with a seven play, 80-yard scoring drive as Tott and Thomas connected for their second touchdown of the game, this time on a 37-yard pass. Another PAT by Gilliam increased the Wolves lead to 27-7 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.

The final touchdown for the Wolves came in their first possession of the fourth quarter as Tott threw his third scoring pass of the game connecting with Carlos Martin (Laurel) on a 79-yard catch and run that ended a four play, 90-yard drive. The final PAT by Gilliam increased the Wolves lead to 34-7 with 11:09 remaining in the game.

The Wolves defense then stepped up to end the game allowing the Trojans just 40 yards of offense combined on their final two drives of the game to secure the 34-7 victory.

DeVon Tott led the way for the Wolves offense completing 13 of 21 pass attempts for 226 yards with three touchdowns and one interception and added 21 yards on seven rushing attempts. Johnnie Danniel led the rushing attack with 93 yards on 15 attempts with one touchdown while Dezmond Ray (Itta Bena) had 39 yards on five rushes and Tray Minor (Natchez) added 35 yards on six carries.

Carlos Martin led the receiving corps with 100 yards on four receptions and one touchdown while Dakota Thomas had 58 yards on four receptions with two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Wolves were led by Collin McGowan (Wesson) who finished with six total tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. Kaden Dukes (Petal) had five total tackles including three tackles for loss while Jahron Manning (New Orleans, LA) also had five total tackles. McGowan, Dukes, and Manning also added one pass breakup each to their nights. Amery Edwards (Tioga, LA) had four total tackles while Bully Pullen (Kaufman, TX), Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs), Kevontay Wells (Jackson), Christopher Burnett (Yazoo City), Montra Edwards (Lexington), and Clyde Pinder, Jr., (Tampa, FL) had three tackles apiece. Edwards and Pinder, Jr., had one sack each for the Wolves.

Brandon Gilliam had another perfect night in the place-kicking game going 6-for-6 between field goals and extra point attempts. Gilliam also averaged 31.5 yards per kick across two punts with one going inside the 20-yard line and averaged 48.3 yards per kick across six kickoffs with one touchback.

Co-Lin will return to action next week as they take to the road for the first time this season to face off against No. 4 Jones on Thursday, September 21. The action between the Wolves and Bobcats will kickoff at 7 p.m., at Sim Cooley Field at Bobcat Stadium in Ellisville.