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CLARKSDALE, Miss. – Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s offensive was firing on all cylinders Thursday night as the Wolves (2-0) racked up 488 yards with a well-balanced offensive attack. The solid play resulted in a 34-6 victory over the Tigers of Coahoma Community College (1-1). The Wolves return to action Thursday, September 14 as Mississippi Gulf Coast (1-1) travels to Stone Stadium in Wesson for Co-Lin’s home opener. Watch the game live at colinathletics.com or listen live at WMJU 104.3 FM in Brookhaven.
Co-Lin was the first to light up the scoreboard Thursday after a defensive first quarter. With just 46 seconds remaining in the period freshman quarterback Woody Barrett found Kobe Gates, a Jackson State transfer, for a 4-yard touchdown pass after he escaped a collapsed pocket. Griffin Sublett added the extra point to give the Wolves a 7-0 lead.
Just four minutes later the same Barrett-Gates connection was made again on the other end of the field, as the Auburn transfer threw a strike from 13-yards out. Co-Lin led 14-0 with 11:02 remaining in the half.
Midway through the second quarter the Wolves capitalized on a short Coahoma punt that started the Co-Lin drive at their own 46-yard line. After a quick toss to Nero Nelson for an eight-gain, Barrett broke free for a 35-yard rush on a QB draw. Freshman running back Rico Owens sealed the drive with a two-yard halfback dive to stretch Co-Lin’s lead to 21-0.
With under a minute to play in the first half, Michigan transfer Keith Washington picked off Coahoma’s Trey Mitchell on Co-Lin’s own 20 yard-line. The Wolves marched down the field after Owens busted a 25-yard rush. Sublett nailed a 31-yard field goal as time expired to give the Wolves a 24-0 lead heading into the locker room.
Sublett, a sophomore from Pascagoula, Miss., split the uprights again early in the third as Co-Lin’s opening drive stalled deep in Coahoma’s territory. The 21-yarder stretched Co-Lin’s lead to 27-0.
The Tiger’s lone touchdown came in the third after a 41-yard completion to Chris Claybrooks landed Coahoma in the red zone. Coahoma’s Mitchell ran a QB sneak from one-yard to score. The ensuing point after attempt was blocked by the Wolves.
Co-Lin’s final score came late in the third quarter after an 80-yard drive was capped off with another Owens one-yard rushing touchdown. The score gave the Wolves a 34-6 lead.
Barrett finished the night 16-for-27 in the air for 169 yards and 122 yards on the ground after 10 carries. Freshman Deion Dampier rushed for 91 yards on 19 carries while Owens posted 75 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
The Wolves spread the ball out in the passing game as seven Co-Lin receivers made receptions. Nelson and DeMatre Collins led the Wolves with 51 and 41 yards respectively on four catches apiece. Gates, Ryan Drew, and Jalen Browder all hauled in multiple passes, while Malik Gray and Dampier had one each.
Defensively the Wolves were led by Tyler Glass who was all over the field. The sophomore from Greenwood, Miss. had eight tackles and an interception that he returned for 14 yards. Charles Cameron recorded six tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack, while TJ Gray and RJ Jarrett added five tackles of their own. Washington finished with two interceptions and Paul Wilson finished with one interception. Co-Lin held Coahoma to 315 total yards on 54 plays.
