Dominant Second Half Leads Wolves to Second Straight Win

WESSON – The Co-Lin football team played their final non-division game of the season against Coahoma on Thursday, September 29. The Wolves struggled at the start of the game but scored 35 unanswered points and used a second-half shutout to beat the Tigers, 35-10.

The Tigers got on the board on the opening possession of the game with a one-yard scoring rush to end an 11 play, 68-yard drive. The PAT was good making the score 7-0 with 10:37 left on the clock in the first quarter. The Wolves looked to respond with a scoring drive of their own on their ensuing possession, but a 21-yard field goal attempt by freshman kicker Corey Case (Brookhaven) was missed wide left maintaining the 7-0 deficit for the Wolves.

Both team's defenses then settled in, and the next eight combined drives ended in either a turnover or punt. The Tigers extended their lead to 10-0 late in the second quarter taking advantage of a fumble by the Wolves that led to a 39-yard field goal ending a 13 play, 41-yard drive with 3:10 remaining in the first half.

The Wolves comeback then started on their next possession as they drove down the field for a score on a 12 play, 71-yard scoring drive capped off by a 29-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback DeVon Tott (Mandeville, LA) to freshman receiver O'Ryan James (Houma, LA). The successful PAT by Corey Case cut the Tigers lead down to 10-7 with six seconds left in the first half. The Wolves then recovered an onside kick with five seconds left, but the final pass play of the half was defended by the Tigers to maintain their 10-7 lead as the teams headed to the locker rooms for halftime.

The second half belonged to the Wolves as they scored 28 points and the defense forced timely turnovers en route to a second half shutout.

The Wolves started their scoring with the opening possession of the third quarter as they drove 71 yards in six play including 53 rushing yards from sophomore running back Bobby Shanklin, Jr., (Macon) who finished the drive with a one-yard scoring rush. Another successful PAT by Case gave the Wolves their first lead of the night at 14-10 with 12:42 left in the third quarter.

The Wolves defense then forced their first of four turnovers in the second half as freshman defensive back Andrew Johnson (Olive Branch) forced a fumble by the Tigers and sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Magee (Magee) recovered the ball at the Tigers 44-yard line. The Wolves offense then responded with a six-play scoring drive capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tott to freshman receiver Carlos Martin (Laurel) and another PAT by Case increased the Wolves lead to 21-10 with 9:01 left in the third quarter.

The Wolves defense then allowed just one first down on the next Tigers possession before forcing a punt. The Wolves offense then needed one play to add to their lead as Tott took off on a rush and scored from 62 yards out while another PAT by Case gave the Wolves a 28-10 lead with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter.

The final score of the game came from the Wolves defense as they forced their second turnover of the third quarter as linebacker Nate White picked off the Tigers quarterback and returned the ball 68 yards for a touchdown. The final PAT by Case gave the Wolves a 35-10 lead with 5:11 left in the third quarter.

The Tigers looked to respond with their next possession as they drove deep into the Wolves side of the field, but a fumble recovery by Johnson for the Wolves defense at their own 21-yard line ended the scoring threat.

The final quarter of play was highlighted by three interceptions, two for the Tigers, and one for sophomore defensive back Ques McNeal (Ackerman) at the Wolves 14-yard line that once again eliminated a scoring threat by the Tigers. The Wolves defense stalled out the Tigers final two possessions of the game to secure the second half shutout and the 35-10 victory.

DeVon Tott completed 14 of 28 pass attempts for 158 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and was also the leading rusher for the Wolves with 96 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown. Freshman quarterback Tyler Fortenberry (Brookhaven) completed two of four pass attempts for 15 yards with one interception.

Bobby Shanklin, Jr., led all running backs with 71 yards on nine carries with one touchdown while sophomore running backs Antonio Luckett (Carthage) and Kyjuan Herndon had nine carries for 27 yards and six carries for 18 yards respectively.

O'Ryan James led the Wolves receiving corps with 76 yards on four receptions with one touchdown while sophomore receiver Tyquan Henderson (Canton) had 56 yards on seven receptions. Freshmen receivers Carlos Martin, Tyron Henderson (Hickory), and Jaylen Smith (Jacksonville, FL) had one receptions each with Martin adding one touchdown to his total. Bobby Shanklin, Jr., and Antonio Luckett also had one reception each on the night.

The Wolves defense forced five total turnovers on the night with three interceptions coming from Ques McNeal, Nate White, and freshman defensive back Kaden Dukes (Petal) while Jordan Magee and Andrew Johnson tallied fumble recoveries. Sophomore linebacker Ja'Len Sims (Birmingham) once again led the defensive unit with 10 total tackles including two sacks and had one pass breakup while freshman linebacker Zavion Shaw (Terry) had eight tackles including three tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive lineman Kadarius Miller (Magnolia) had six tackles while sophomore linebacker Jamal Pye (Byhalia), sophomore defensive lineman Travorus Hatcher (Macon), and Kaden Dukes had five tackles each. Freshman defensive backs Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs) and Davion Roby (Kosciusko) recorded two pass breakups each while freshman defensive lineman Kevontay Wells (Jackson) had one sack during the game.

Co-Lin is now 3-2 overall and 1-1 in South Division play and will return to action hosting South Division foe Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College as the Wolves celebrate Homecoming on Thursday, October 6. Action between the Bulldogs and the Wolves kicks off at 6:30 p.m., at Stone Stadium.