Wolves Drop Season Opener to Lions

SCOOBA – The Co-Lin Football team took to the road for the 2022 season opener to face off against No. 6 East Mississippi on Thursday, September 1. The Lions beat the Wolves by a final of 38-0.

The game began as a defensive contest as neither team's offense could find a rhythm throughout the majority of the first quarter. However, the Lions ended their final possession of the quarter with a 30-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 38 seconds left with a drive that started after the Wolves were forced to punt after having a deep pass attempt from freshman quarterback DeVon Tott (Mandeville, LA) to O'Ryan James (Houma, LA) fall incomplete.

The Wolves and Lions defenses continued to stall out the opposing offenses until early in the second quarter when the Wolves completed a 79-yard touchdown pass from Tott to freshman running back Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs); however, the scoring play was negated due to a penalty against the Wolves and the offense was forced to punt to end the drive.

Neither team's offense would put points on the board in the second quarter as the Lions held their 3-0 lead going into the locker rooms at halftime after the Lions had a late field goal attempt in the second quarter blocked by Wolves defensive back Ques McNeal (Ackerman).

The second half saw the Lions offense score 35 points as they put 14 points on the board in the third and 21 in the fourth while the Lions defense smothered the Wolves offense to secure the 38-0 win.

DeVon Tott completed 16 of 39 pass attempts to for 212 yards with three interceptions. The Wolves had nine different players with a reception as sophomore receiver Tyquan Henderson (Canton) led the way with 79 yards on four receptions while freshman receivers O'Ryan James and Jaylen Smith (Jacksonville, FL) had two receptions each for nine and 38 yards respectively. Freshman running back Johnnie Daniels and freshman receiver Carlos Martin (Laurel) had two receptions each for 26 and 15 yards respectively while sophomore tight end Harold Rhodes (Silver Creek), sophomore receiver Jerrick Wooten (Byhalia), sophomore running back Kyjuan Herndon (Jacksonville, FL), and freshman receiver Cade Dedeaux (Sumrall) had one reception each.

Johnnie Daniels led the Wolves rushing attack with 57 yards on 13 carries while Kyjuan Herndon added 40 yards on five carries and sophomore running back Antonio Luckett (Carthage) had 18 yards on six carries.

Sophomore linebacker Ja'Len Sims and freshman defensive back Kaden Dukes (Petal) led the Wolves defense with nine total tackles each, while sophomore defensive back Ques McNeal added seven total tackles along with two pass breakups, and one blocked field goal. Freshman defensive backs Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs) and Dre Ross (Brookhaven) along with sophomore defensive lineman Nate White (Orlando, FL) had five tackles each while White also added one sack and a forced fumble to his night. Freshman linebacker Zavion Shaw (Terry) along with defensive linemen sophomore Travorus Hatcher (Macon).

Co-Lin is now 0-1 on the season and will return to action on Thursday, September 8 on the road at Mississippi Delta. Kickoff between the Wolves and the Trojans is set for 6:30 p.m., at Jim Randall Stadium in Moorhead.