Historic Performance by Daniels Leads Wolves to Overtime Homecoming Win

WESSON – The Co-Lin Football team wrapped up the home portion of the 2023 regular season hosting East Central for Homecoming on Thursday, October 27. Regulation was not enough time for the Wolves and Warriors to earn a win as the game went into overtime, but ultimately the Wolves earned the win, 40-34, to close out a perfect 5-0 home portion of the season.

The Warriors got the scoring started on their first possession after the Warrior defense held the Wolves offense to a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game. After a successful PAT by the Warriors, they held a 7-0 lead with 10:20 left in the first quarter.

The Wolves offense continued to battle to find success against the Warriors defense as the 7-0 held throughout the remainder of the first quarter. However, the Wolves tied the game early in the second quarter as DeVon Tott (Mandeville, LA) scampered in from 17 yards out to end a ten play, 78-yard drive. A successful PAT by Brandon Gilliam (Vicksburg) tied the game at 7-7 with 13:21 left in the second quarter.

The Warriors regained the lead on their ensuing possession with a 19-yard touchdown pass while the PAT made the lead, 14-10, with 10 minutes left in the second quarter. The Wolves responded with a 12 play, 42-yard scoring drive that resulted in a successful 26-yard field goal by Gilliam cutting the lead down to 14-10 with 2:28 left in the first half. That score held as the teams entered the locker rooms at halftime.

The Warriors then came out and scored on the opening possession of the second half; however, they missed the PAT making the score, 20-10, with 12:35 left in the third quarter.

The Wolves responded immediately with their next possession as Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) went untouched from 64 yards out while a successful PAT by Gilliam cut the Warriors lead down to 20-17 with 12:21 left in the third quarter. The Wolves then tied the game again late in the third quarter as Gilliam hit his second field goal of the night, this time from 28 yards out, making the score 20-20 with 2:37 left in the quarter.

The Wolves took the lead on their next possession as Daniels scored on another long run, once again untouched, this time from 42 yards out to end a three play, 52-yard drive. Another PAT by Gilliam gave the Wolves a 27-20 lead with 22 seconds left in the third quarter. The Warriors responded with back-to-back touchdown rushes on back-to-back possessions while two successful PATs gave the Warriors a 34-27 lead with 9:17 left in the game.

The Wolves once again brought the game to a tie as Daniels scored his third rushing touchdown of the game, this one from five yards out, capping off a 12 play, 75-yard drive. The PAT by Gilliam tied the game at 34-34 with 2:46 remaining in regulation.

The Wolves defense then held the Warriors offense to negative yardage on their next possession forcing a punt and a chance for a game-winning drive by the Wolves offense. The Wolves special teams unit looked prime for a game-winning field goal after Will Loy (Wesson) completed an 18-yard pass to Daniels, but the clock expired before the ball was snapped for the kick sending the game into overtime tied at 34-34.

In overtime, the Wolves defense once again held the Warriors offense to negative yardage on their possession ultimately forcing a turnover on downs handing the Wolves offense the ball. The Wolves needed just two plays, both rushes by Daniels, to take the game and get the win, 40-34. Daniels scored his fourth rushing touchdown from six yards out becoming the first running back in head coach Glenn Davis' tenure to accomplish that feat in a game.

DeVon Tott finished the game with 20 completions on 33 pass attempts for 176 yards paired with four carries for 40 yards with one touchdown.

Johnnie Daniels career night featured 13 carries for 159 yards with four touchdowns. Daniels averaged 12.2 yards per carry throughout the game.

Jamarquez Melton (West Point) led the receiving corps with five receptions for 60 yards while Carlos Martin added a team-high six receptions for 37 yards.

For the second straight game, Brandon Gilliam finished perfect in the kicking game going 6-for-6 in scoring opportunities with two field goals and four PATs. Gilliam also averaged 27.6 yards per punt across six punts with one going for a touchback and one going inside the 20-yard line along with averaging 64 yards per kickoff across seven kicks with four touchbacks.

The Wolves defense had a stellar night as a unit including 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two forced fumbles. Kaden Dukes (Petal) and Colin McGowan (Wesson) led the unit with nine total tackles each while McGowan had one tackle for loss.

Billy Pullen (Kaufman, TX) was a dominant force on the line for the Wolves with six total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup. Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs) and Dedric Hicks both made their presences known throughout the game with six total tackles each with both adding a half tackle for loss to their night.

Co-Lin improves to 7-1 overall, 4-1 in South Division play, and will wrap up the regular season against Hinds on Thursday, November 2. Kickoff between the Wolves and Eagles is set for 6:30 p.m., at Gene Murphy Field inside Joe Renfroe Stadium in Raymond.