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WESSON, Miss. – Co-Lin took a one-point, 14-13, lead into the locker room at halftime, but fell to the No. 5 Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers Thursday night, 23-14. The loss drops the Wolves to 2-2 on the year but does not affect Co-Lin’s division record. The Rangers are now 4-0 on the year. Co-Lin is back to division play next Thursday as Co-Lin travels to Perkinston to take on Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The Bulldogs are 3-1 after falling to Jones last night.
Co-Lin was first to strike Thursday night. On the Wolves second possession, Hayden Davis connected with DeMartre Collins on a quick pass. Collins took it 62 yards to the Northwest 18-yard line. Just two plays later, Davis hit Malik Heath who took it in for the first score of the contest. Ashton Garner hit the extra point giving Co-Lin an early 7-0 lead.
Northwest responded with a grueling 20 play, 84-yard drive. The drive had six third downs, but the Rangers managed to convert. Kevin Perkins, who punched it in from one yard out, capped off the drive. With 1:05 remaining in the first quarter the game was tied 7-7.
With 4:26 remaining in the second quarter, after several punts from both teams, the Rangers took over on their own nine-yard line. Northwest’s quarterback Jacob Free tried to squeeze a pass by Co-Lin’s Edwin Whitlock, and after a tip, Whitlock came down with the interception on the Rangers 29-yard line. Co-Lin immediately went to the end zone where Davis and Heath connected for the second time. The 29-yard toss and catch pulled the Wolves to a 14-7 lead late in the opening half. The Rangers had a nice drive going on the ensuing possession, but the Wolves made a stand on fourth and seven on their own 21-yard line to take the momentum into halftime.
Northwest scored early in the third quarter as Perkins ran another in, this time from just five yards out. Co-Lin’s Kobe Wren blocked the Ranger’s point after attempt to help the Wolves maintain a 14-13 lead.
After several stalled Co-Lin drives, Northwest drove 48 yards and hit a 34-yard field goal with 1:32 remaining in the third. The score gave Northwest their first lead of the game, 16-14.
Midway through the fourth Davis hit Kundarrius Taylor on a big pass over the middle for 48 yards. The play got Co-Lin deep into Rangers territory, but after a rush from Rico Owens, an incomplete pass, and a sack Co-Lin had to attempt a 35-yard field goal that sailed wide right.
Northwest began eating the clock with a rushing attack and with 1:07 remaining in the game Perkins scored his third touchdown of the night on the ground from 10-yards out. The score pulled the game out of reach for Co-Lin 23-14.
Hayden Davis was 10-for-13 on the night for 191 yards and two scores while Connor Mire, was 3-for-7 for 20 yards. Despite throwing 34 fewer attempts Davis had more yardage than Northwest’s Jacob Free. Free was 23-for-47 for 164 yards. Deion Dampier led Co-Lin’s rushing attack with 27 yards on eight touches. DeMartre Collins had two receptions for 66 yards, Kundariius Taylor had 58 yards on two receptions, and Malik Heath had 50 yards and two scores on three catches. Jalen Browder led the Co-Lin receivers in catches with four.
Defensively, Co-Lin was led by sophomore linebacker Swayze Bozeman with 12 tackles. Both Tyrus Wheat and RJ Jarrett followed with 10 tackles each. Jarrett led the team with two tackles for loss. Kobe Wren and Taijh Alston posted half a sack each. Brandon Pierre led Northwest with 11 tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss.
Next Thursday’s game against Mississippi Gulf Coast is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Fans can watch the action live at mgccbulldogs.com or listen live at colinathletics.com For more information about the Co-Lin football program follow @colinathletics or @CoLinFootball on Twitter.
