Wolves Stunned By Bulldogs for Homecoming

WESSON – The Co-Lin Football team returned to South Division play hosting Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for Homecoming on Thursday, October 6. The Bulldogs used a second half comeback to take a 31-28 win over the Wolves.

The Bulldogs got the scoring started early in the first quarter as they took a 7-0 lead on a five play, 47-yard touchdown drive. The Wolves responded late in the quarter as sophomore quarterback DeVon Tott completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Tyquan Henderson (Canton) to cap off a six play, 36-yard drive. A successful PAT by freshman kicker Corey Case (Brookhaven) tied the game at 7-7 with 3:35 left in the quarter.

The Wolves then took a lead with the first play in the second quarter with a trick play as Tott threw the ball to Henderson who then completed a pass to sophomore tight end Harold Rhodes (Silver Creek) who finished off the play for a 51-yard touchdown. Another successful PAT by Case gave the Wolves a 14-7 lead with 14:49 left in the second quarter. The Wolves then extended their lead midway through the quarter as Tott threw his second touchdown pass of the first half completing a 30-yard pass to freshman receiver Jaylen Smith (Jacksonville, FL) capping off a three play, 40-yard drive. Another successful PAT by Case gave the Wolves a 21-7 lead with 5:45 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs added a 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the first half to cut the Wolves lead down to 21-10 which is where the score stood as the teams entered the locker rooms for halftime.

The second half belonged to the Bulldogs as they outscored the Wolves 21-7 over the final two quarters. The Bulldogs first touchdown came on the opening possession of the second half with a 39-yard scoring pass to cut the lead down to 21-17 with 13 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The lone touchdown of the second half for the Wolves came from the defense as freshman defensive back Dedrian Alexander (Bassfield) stepped in front of a Bulldogs pass and returned the ball 44 yards for the score. Another PAT by Case increased the Wolves lead to 28-17 with 9:59 left in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs added their second touchdown of the third quarter on an 89-yard scoring pass to cut the lead down to 28-24 with 1:20 left in the quarter. The final score for the Bulldogs came early in the fourth quarter with a 14-yard pass to take the lead from the Wolves and make the score 31-28 with 13:26 left in the game. The Wolves looked to respond with their next possession as they drove the ball down to the Bulldogs two-yard line, but the drive stalled out and the Bulldogs blocked the potential game-tying field goal by the Wolves. The Bulldogs offense then ran out the clock to end the game and take the 31-28 win.

DeVon Tott completed 11 of 20 pass attempts for 135 yards with two touchdowns paired with eight rushes for 18 yards. Freshman running back Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) led the ground attack for the Wolves with 108 yards on eight carries while sophomore running backs Bobby Shanklin, Jr. (Macon), and Kyjuan Herndon (Jacksonvile, FL) had eight carries for 34 yards and six carries for 21 yards respectively. Tyquan Henderson led the Wolves receiving corps with four receptions for 52 yards with one touchdown and completed one pass attempt for 51 yards with one touchdown. Harold Rhodes had one reception for 51 yards and one touchdown while Jaylen Smith and Johnnie Daniels had two receptions each while Smith had one touchdown. James Singleton, Jr. (Natchez), Carlos Martin (Laurel), and Antrelle Sims (Wesson) had one reception each.

Sophomore linebackers Jamal Pye (Byhalia) and Ja'Len Sims (Birmingham, AL) led the Wolves defense with eight and seven tackles respectively. Freshman defensive backs Andrew Johnson (Olive Branch), Davion Roby (Kosciusko), and Kaden Dukes (Petal) along with sophomore defensive lineman Kadarius Miller (Magnolia) added six tackles each. Sophomore defensive lineman Travorus Hatcher (Macon) and freshman defensive lineman Kevontay Wells (Jackson) had a half sack each while freshman defensive back Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs) had two pass breakups with Pye and Johnson adding one pass breakup each to their night.

Co-Lin is now 3-3 overall and will return to action with a road trip against Pearl River on Thursday, October 13. The Wolves and Wildcats will kickoff at 7:00 p.m., at Dobie Holden Stadium in Poplarville.