Wolves Surge Past Wildcats

POPLARVILLE – The Co-Lin Football team continued South Division play with a road contest against Pearl River Community College on Thursday, September 23. The Wolves used a strong second half showing to run away from the Wildcats in a 48-15 victory to earn their second straight win of the 2021 season.

The Wolves wasted no time getting on the board early in the contest as sophomore running back Drexlan Allen (Hattiesburg) got his first of two long touchdown rushes as he exploded through a hole in the defense and scampered to the endzone from 75 yards out. The score capped off a two play, 82-yard drive and a successful PAT by sophomore kicker Bryce Lofton (Sand Hill) gave the Wolves a 7-0 lead with 14:15 left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats responded with a field goal on their ensuing possession cutting the lead to 7-3. However, the Wolves extended their lead later in the quarter as Allen once again tore through a hole in the Wildcats defense and scored from 63 yards out capping a four play, 87-yard drive. Another successful PAT increased the Wolves lead to 14-3 with 4:18 left to play in the first quarter.

The Wildcats once again cut into the lead as the special teams unit blocked a punt attempt by the Wolves and returned the ball for a touchdown. A successful PAT cut the lead to 14-10 at the end of the quarter. Turnovers plagued the Wolves offense in the second quarter as the Wildcats stopped two promising drives by forcing and recovering fumbles, with the second recovery leading to a Wildcats field goal after a goal line stand by the Wolves defense. The Wolves held a slim lead, 14-13, as the teams went into the locker rooms at halftime.

The second half was the tipping point in the contest between the Wolves and Wildcats as the Wolves went on a 34-2 scoring run. The Wolves defense seized momentum on the Wildcats second drive of the third quarter as freshman defensive back Ques McNeal (Ackerman) stepped in front of a Wildcats pass for an interception and returned the ball to the Wildcats 26-yard line. A personal foul against the Wolves pushed the ball back to the 41-yard line of the Wildcats to start the ensuing drive.

Sophomore quarterback Paul Hargrave (Natchez) connected with freshman receiver Dekyren Johnson (Oxford) on a 24-yard touchdown pass capping off the three play, 41-yard drive and another successful PAT increased the Wolves lead to 21-13 with 9:47 left in the third quarter.

The Wolves proceeded to score on three straight possessions in the quarter starting with a one-yard rush by freshman running back Bobby Shanklin, Jr., (Macon) capping off a two play, nine-yard drive; however, the PAT was missed. The Wolves defense once again sparked an offensive possession as sophomore linebacker Jalen Campbell (Winona) forced a fumble by the Wildcats and sophomore defensive back Malik Jones (Crystal Springs) recovered the ball at the 41-yard line of the Wildcats.

On the ensuing drive, freshman quarterback Colton Gardner (Madison) got his first touchdown in a Wolves uniform on a play where Gardner fumbled the ball, recovered, and then hit a wide-open Tyquan Henderson (Canton) for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Another successful PAT increased the Wolves lead to 34-13 with 4:18 remaining. Eleven seconds later, Ques McNeal got his second interception of the game and returned the ball 22 yards for a touchdown and another PAT gave the Wolves a 41-13 lead.

The final touchdown for the Wolves came midway through the fourth quarter as Gardner collected his second score of the game connecting with sophomore tight end Liqouri Young (Jackson) from seven yards out capping off a five play, 50-yard drive. Another successful PAT gave the Wolves a 48-13 lead with 9:35 remaining in the game. The Wildcats added a safety late in the fourth quarter and then the Wolves defense stepped up to stifle the final offensive possession for Pearl River sealing the 48-15 victory.

Paul Hargrave completed nine of 17 pass attempts for 134 yards with one touchdown and one interception while Colton Gardner went 2-for-2 on passes for 36 yards with two touchdowns.

Drexlan Allen had a huge night for the Wolves rushing attack gaining 161 yards on five carries with two touchdowns while Bobby Shanklin, Jr., had 74 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown.

A trio of receivers led the way with two receptions each as Dekyren Johnson, Dontavious Turner, and Tyquan Henderson hauled in catches on the night. Johnson had 49 yards with one touchdown while Turner and Henderson had 31 yards apiece with Henderson adding a touchdown to his tally.

Bryce Lofton went 6-for-7 on point after attempts, averaged 31.3 yards across four punts, and averaged 59.2 yards on nine kickoff attempts with three going for touchbacks.

A pair of sophomore defensive backs led the Wolves defense as Malik Jones and Abdural Lee (Starkville) had seven tackles each while Jones also added a fumble recovery and one pass breakup to his tally. Lee has either led or shared the team led in tackles all four weeks for the Wolves. Sophomore linebackers Jamal Pye (Byhalia) and Jalen Campbell added six and five tackles respectively with Campbell adding one forced fumble to his night. Freshman defensive lineman Jordan Magee (Magee) and freshman defensive back Ques McNeal added four tackles each. McNeal had two interceptions while Magee added a half sack to his night.

The Wolves are now 2-2 overall and 2-0 in South Division play for the 2021 season.

NEXT UP Co-Lin hosts Mississippi Gulf Coast next Thursday for another MACCC South Division showdown. Kickoff in Wesson is set for 6:30 p.m.

TICKETING Tickets for all home games are available online at bit.ly/3o5eGk0. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to secure their seat and avoid standing in line. Chairback tickets are $20. General admission tickets are $10 in advance or $10 at the box office on gameday.

TUNE IN All Wolf Pack games are streamed for free at media.colin.edu/presto. Games are also available on WMJU 104.3 FM in Brookhaven.