Wolves Hold Off Bears Comeback Attempt

WESSON – The Co-Lin Football team returned home for their next MACCC South Division matchup hosting Southwest on Thursday, September 28. The Wolves held off a late comeback attempt by the Bears to earn their first South Division win, 29-21.

The Bears got the scoring started with a touchdown on their opening possession of the game after forcing a three-and-out by the Wolves on the opening possession of the game making the score, 7-0 with 9:43 left in the first quarter.

The Wolves responded by tying the game with a touchdown drive on their ensuing drive as Tray Minor (Natchez) scored his first touchdown of the season with an 18-yard scoring rush. The successful PAT made the score 7-7 after the nine play, 65-yard drive with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter. The Wolves then took the lead with their next possession of the first quarter as Will Loy (Wesson) threw his first collegiate career passing touchdown with a 21-yard pass to Jaylen Smith (Jacksonville, FL) while another successful PAT by Brandon Gilliam (Vicksburg) gave the Wolves a 14-7 lead with 3:38 left in the first quarter.

The Wolves then increased their lead early in the second quarter as Minor powered the ball in from three yards out to cap off a 10 play, 87-yard drive. Another successful PAT made the score, 21-7 with 11:24 remaining in the quarter.

Loy then threw his second touchdown pass of the game as Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) scored on a 31-yard catch and run on the Wolves next possession. A bad snap on the PAT forced the Wolves to try an impromptu two-point conversion that saw Tyler Fortenberry (Brookhaven) complete a pass to Kevontay Wells (Jackson) increasing the Wolves lead to 29-7 with 7:29 left on the clock.

The Bears then cut into the lead after scoring on a touchdown on a blocked punt making the score 29-14 with 4:41 remaining in the first half. The remainder of the first half featured three straight interceptions, two for the Bears and Kaden Dukes (Petal) getting one for the Wolves, on three straight pass attempts, but the Wolves held onto the 29-14 lead as the teams entered the locker rooms for halftime.

The Bears came out and once again cut into the Wolves lead with a scoring drive on their opening possession of the second half cutting the Wolves lead down to 29-21 with 10:01 left in the third quarter.

The Bears then forced a three-and-out on the Wolves opening possession of the second half and looked to potentially score on their ensuing drive, but Elijah Short (Columbus) stepped in front of a Bears pass at the Wolves two-yard line and returned the ball 47 yards to give the Wolves the ball back.

The Wolves then looked to add to their lead in back-to-back possessions with two field goal attemtps but could not increase the lead as one attempt was missed and another was blocked by the Bears.

After the blocked field goal, the Bears drove all the way down the field to the Wolves seven-yard line and looked to potentially tie the game with less than a minute left. However, the Wolves defense once again came up with a big play getting pressure on the Bears quarterback and forcing a throw into the endzone that was picked off by Jahron Manning (New Orleans, LA) with 44 seconds left on the clock. The Wolves offense then kneeled on the ball to run the clock out to secure the 29-21 victory.

Will Loy completed 17 of 23 pass attempts for 193 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Johnnie Daniels led the rushing attack with 61 yards on 17 carries paired with his one 31-yard touchdown reception while Tray Minor had a huge impact on the game for the Wolves with 55 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns.

Jaylen Smith led the receiving corps with 103 yards on nine receptions with one touchdown while Carlos Martin (Laurel) had four receptions for 32 yards.

Kaden Dukes led the Wolves defense with ten total tackles including one tackle for loss and one interception while Collin McGowan (Wesson) and Malachi Williams had seven and five total tackles respectively. Billy Pullen (Kaufman, TX), Dedric Hicks (Laurel), and Zavion Shaw (Terry) had four total tackles each.

Co-Lin improves to 3-1 overall, 1-1 in South Division play. The Wolves return to action next week in their final non-division game as they go on the road to face off against Coahoma on Saturday, October 7. The action between the Wolves and the Tigers kicks off at 5 p.m., at James E. Miller Stadium in Clarksdale.