Wolves Fall to Lions in MACCC Championship

SCOOBA – In a rematch from their season opening matchup, Co-Lin and East Mississippi faced off against each other with the MACCC Championship on the line on Saturday, November 18. The No. 6 Lions beat the No. 4 Wolves, 27-20, to take the title.

The Wolves got on the board first as Tray Minor (Natchez) powered the ball in from six yards out to cap off a 14 play, 91-yard drive while the PAT by Brandon Gilliam (Vicksburg) made the score 7-0 with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Wolves defense then stepped up and handed the ball back to the offense as Kaden Dukes (Petal) picked off a pass by the Lions quarterback Ty Keyes and returned the ball to the East Mississippi 34-yard line. Gilliam later connected on a 22-yard field goal to extend the Wolves lead to 10-0 with 10:15 left in the second quarter.

The Lions added two field goals throughout the remainder of play in the second quarter as they cut the Wolves lead down to 10-6 going to halftime.

The Lions then took a 13-10 lead with a touchdown rush with nine seconds left in the third quarter. The Wolves responded with a scoring drive to open the fourth quarter as Gilliam connected on his second field goal of the game, this time from 33 yards out, to tie the game at 13-13 with 12:23 left in the game.

The Lions then scored on their next possession with a 42-yard touchdown pass to regain the lead at 20-13 with 9:36 remaining. However, the Wolves once again responded with a scoring drive of their own as DeVon Tott (Mandeville, LA) connected with Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) on a seven-yard touchdown pass capping off an 11 play, 65-yard drive. The successful PAT by Gilliam tied the game at 20-20 with 2:26 left.

The Lions then regained the lead with a 79-yard catch and run making the score 27-20 with 1:27 left in the game. The Wolves looked to respond as Tott connected with Daniels on another pass, but the Lions forced a fumble on the play and recovered the ball securing the 27-20 win.

DeVon Tott completed 11 of 22 pass attempts for 150 yards with one touchdown paired with ten rushes for 29 yards. Johnnie Daniels led both the rushing attack and receiving corps with 22 carries for 135 yards along with three receptions for 52 yards with one touchdown. Carlos Martin (Laurel) had three receptions for 28 yards.

Dedric Hicks (Laurel) led the Wolves defense with six tackles while Andres Johnson (Olive Branch), Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs), Jahron Manning (New Orleans, LA), and Clyde Pinder, Jr. (Tampa, FL) had four tackles apiece.

Co-Lin finishes the season at 9-2 overall, 5-1 in MACCC South Division play.