Wolves Rally Comes Up Just Short Against Bobcats

WESSON – The Co-Lin Football team held their home opener facing off against No. 6 Jones on Thursday, September 15. The Bobcats beat the Wolves by a final of 23-17.

The Bobcats got their first touchdown of the game on their second possession on three play, 55-yard drive and a successful PAT made the score 7-0 with 9:17 left in the first quarter. The Wolves then looked to respond on their ensuing possession but a 50-yard field goal attempt by sophomore kicker Dylan Wasson (Germantown) was blocked by the Bobcats to keep the score at 7-0.

The Bobcats then looked to take a two score lead early in the second quarter as they drove the ball to the Wolves two-yard line, but the Wolves defense held strong and forced a fumble on a third and goal play to keep the Bobcats out of the endzone. However, the Wolves offense had a pass intercepted by the Bobcats and the ball was returned to the Wolves 29-yard line. Once again, the Wolf Pack defense held strong against the Bobcats holding them to a 24-yard field goal attempt, which was good, increasing the Bobcats lead to 10-0 with 5:59 left in the second quarter.

The Wolf Pack offense then looked to cut into the lead to end the first half on their next possession driving the ball to the Bobcats 30-yard line, but the Bobcats forced a fumble and recovered the ball at their own 36-yard line and the lead would stay at 10-0 as both teams headed to the locker rooms at halftime.

The second-half comeback for the Wolves started with their opening possession of the third quarter as freshman kicker Corey Case (Brookhaven) was good on a 25-yard field goal attempt to cap off a 12 play, 62-yard scoring drive making the score 10-3 with 6:44 remaining in the quarter. After the Wolves defense forced the Bobcats to punt, the Wolves offense responded with their second straight scoring drive of the quarter as sophomore quarterback DeVon Tott (Mandeville, LA) scampered in from six yards out capping off an eight play, 88-yard drive. A successful PAT by Case tied the game at 10-10 with 2:16 left in the third quarter.

The Wolves then looked for their third straight score of the second half, but the Bobcats intercepted a pass in the endzone to end the scoring threat. The Bobcats offense then responded with a six play, 80-yard scoring drive to take a 17-10 lead with 11:03 left in the fourth quarter. However, the Wolves offense responded immediately on the ensuing drive as Tott connected with sophomore receiver Tyquan Henderson (Canton) on back-to-back passes for 50 combined yards with the second reception a 29-yard scoring play to cap off a four play, 64-yard drive. Another successful PAT by Case once again tied the game at 17-17 with 9:10 remaining in the game.

Once again, the Bobcats responded with a scoring drive on their next possession taking six plays to go 75 yards; however, the PAT was no good making the score 23-17 with 7:15 left in the game. The Wolves offense would get two more possessions before the end of the game but could not find the endzone on either possession including being stopped on the Bobcats six-yard line on the final play of the game sealing the Bobcats 23-17 win.

As a team, the Wolves had 28 first downs and 450 yards on 78 plays in the games. Sophomore quarter DeVon Tott completed 22 of 40 pass attempts for 286 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Tott was also the leading rusher carrying the ball 11 times for 84 yards with one touchdown. Sophomore running back Kyjuan Herndon (Jacksonville, FL) had 13 carries for 59 yards.

Sophomore receiver Tyquan Henderson had a huge night for the Wolves with seven receptions for 140 yards with one touchdown. Sophomore receiver James Singleton, Jr. (Natchez) along with sophomore running back Kyjuan Herndon and freshmen receivers O'Ryan James (Houma, LA), Antrelle Sims (Wesson), and Carlos Martin (Laurel) had multiple receptions throughout the game. Sophomore running back Antonio Luckett (Carthage), sophomore tight end Harold Rhodes (Silver Creek), sophomore receiver Jerrick Wooten (Byhalia), and freshman running back Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) had one reception each.

Freshman defensive back Andrew Johnson (Olive Branch) led the Wolves defense with 10 total tackles while sophomore linebacker Jamal Pye (Byhalia) added nine tackles during the game. Sophomore linebacker Ja'Len Sims (Birmingham, AL), sophomore defensive linemen Nate White (Orlando, FL) and Kadarius Miller (Magnolia) had five tackles each with Sims adding one fumble recovery while White had one forced fumble on the night.

Co-Lin is now 1-2 overall and 0-1 in South Division play and will return to action on the road at Southwest Mississippi on Thursday, September 22. The Wolves and Bears will kickoff at 7 p.m., in Summit.