Wolves Whip Tigers in Regular Season Finale

BOONEVILLE – The Co-Lin Football team took to the road to face off against Northeast Mississippi on Thursday, October 30. The No. 6 Wolves, and MACCC South Division Co-Champions, beat the Tigers, 34-16.

The Wolves got their scoring started early as they took their opening drive of the game and marched down the field on a five play, 84-yard drive capped off by an 18-yard scoring rush by Jaylen Pettway (Jacksonville, FL). However, the PAT by Ty Jones (Summit) was missed making the lead, 6-0, with 11:05 left to play in the first quarter.

The Tigers responded with a touchdown drive setup by a 65-yard kickoff return. However, the game was tied after the PAT was blocked by Rakeem Davis (Port Gibson) making the score, 6-6. The Wolves then scored on their second straight possession as Dezmond Ray (Itta Bena) powered the ball in from three yards out to end a seven play, 72-yard drive. The PAT was successful making the score, 13-6, with 6:15 remaining.

The Wolves defense then stalled out the next drive by the Tigers, while the offense then made it three-for-three as they scored on their third possession of the game. Que Tillman (West Point) scored on a one-yard rush to cap 14 play, 77-yard scoring drive while another successful PAT increased the lead to 20-7 with 10:49 left to play in the second quarter.

Late in the second quarter, the Tigers took advantage on a coverage mistake by the Wolves to score their second touchdown of the game. The successful PAT cut the lead down to 20-13 with 3:45 left to play. The Tigers were then forced to kickoff from their own 20-yard line due to a penalty on the touchdown play which allowed the Wolves special team unit to strike. Kannon Cato (New Hebron) fielded the kickoff at the Wolves 25-yard line and took it 75 yards to the house for a score. A successful PAT increased the lead to 27-13 with 3:31 remaining in the first half. The Wolves held that lead as the teams entered the locker rooms at halftime.

The second half saw a scoreless third quarter between the two teams while the Tigers added a 35-yard field goal to cut the lead down to 27-16 with 14:55 left in the fourth quarter. The Wolves responded on their ensuing possession as Martavious Boswell (Fort Worth, Texas) scampered in from six yards out to cap off an eight play, 37-yard drive that was setup by a 48-yard kickoff return by Jermarj Bell (Mound Bayou). Another successful PAT increased the lead to 34-16 10:27 left to play.

The Tigers then looked to find a response on their next possession, but Jonathan Crain (Brandon) picked off a pass on the Co-Lin seven-yard line to stop the drive. The Tigers then had just eight plays over their final two possessions of the game as the Wolves secured the 34-16 victory.

Jaylen Pettway went 15-for-24 for 178 yards and had one rushing touchdown for the Wolves while Dezmond Ray led the rushing attack with 67 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown. Ja'Quan Bentley (Thomaston, GA) had 43 yards on ten carries while Martavious Boswell had eight carries for 30 yards with one touchdown.

Jermarj Bell led the receiving corps with six receptions for 89 yards while Jabraxton Boone (Forest) hauled in three passes for 42 yards. Ca'Ron Williams (Natchez) had two receptions with Trevor Fortenberry (Brookhaven), Jordan Richardson (Gainesville, FL), Dezmond Ray, and Que Tillman had one reception each.

The Wolves defense was led by linebacker duo Archie Chambers (New Orleans) and Lonnie Smith (Jackson) as Chambers had double-digit tackles with 11 while Smith had eight total tackles and led the team in sacks with three, tackles for loss with four, and quarterback hurries with three. Josiah Vaughn (Gulfport) had five tackles while Nehemiah McCloud (Havana, FL) recorded one sack for the Wolves.

Co-Lin finishes the season 8-1 overall, 5-1 in South Division play, and advances to the MACCC Playoffs. The Wolves are Co-Champions in the South Division with the Bulldogs of Gulf Coast, but by virtue of the head-to-head win, the Wolves have earned the No. 1 seed and will host their playoff game. Co-Lin will welcome in Northwest Mississippi on Saturday, November 8 in a Top-6 matchup. Kickoff between the No. 4 Rangers and the No. 6 Wolves is set for 2 p.m., at Stone Stadium in Wesson.