WESSON – The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Blue Wave MarchingBand opened pregame ceremonies Thursday night in Stone Stadium witha powerful version of “America the Beautiful”. Then the Co-LinWolves and the Mississippi Delta Trojans hit the footballfield.

The Co-Lin offense played its best game of season last nightwith freshman quarterback Willie Johnson completing 12 of 17 passesfor 287 yards and three touchdowns as the Wolves punched out theTrojans 48-34. The teams had 2-0 records coming into last night’sgame.

“We are happy to get the win,”said Co-Lin head football coachDave Cross following the win. “Our offense stepped it up tonight.Tonight, I thought we had our best game.”

Co-Lin improved to 3-0 on the season while Mississippi Deltafell to 2-1. The Trojans are coached by Jim Southward.

The Wolves drew first blood on their opening drive, marching 52yards in eight plays, capped by a 32-yard pass-play from Johnson towide receiver Josh Chapman for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead at the10:42 mark. Jimbo Thornton kicked 6 of 7 extra points on thenight.

The Trojans answered back on its first possession. Delta drove70-yards in nine plays to score on a 14-yard scramble byquarterback Ronnie King for six points. Jay Jones kicked 4-of-4PATs on the night as Delta tied the the game at 7-all at the 5:51mark.

Delta got the ball back on the kickoff to Co-Lin and quicklyscored from the 35 in six plays. King connected to running backMarcus Ross for 20-yard score and went up 14-7 with 3 minutes leftin the first quarter.

Co-Lin roared back using just 2:21 minutes off the clock andrunning seven plays in a 68-yard drive. Johnson found Chapman openfor a 37-yard toss and a 14-14 tie at the end of first-halfplay.

In the second quarter, the Wolves offense continued to roll asthe Wolves defense shut down the Trojans offense.

After Delta missed a 40-yard field goal, Co-Lin took over at itsown 24 and drove 76 yards in four plays to score on a 64-yard passplay from Brown to wide receiver Michael Loving for a 21-14 leadfor the Wolves with 8:24 showing until halftime.

Co-Lin linebacker Antwan Marsh recovered a Delta fumble at the34-yard line and ran it in for quick score with 5:55 left in thefirst half. At halftime, the Wolves led the Trojans 28-14.

The Wolves hurt the Trojans on the third play at the start ofthe third quarter when a fourth-down punt was blocked and recoveredby Co-Lin at the visitors 33-yard line. Two plays later, sophomorerunning back Aaron Yarborough went over the middle for the two-yardtouchdown and pushed the hosts lead to 25-14.

With 4:16 left in the third quarter, Co-Lin defensive back ODellBradley picked off a King pass at the Wolves 48. Three plays later,Yarborough scored his second, 2-yard TD of the night to give thehosts a comfortable 42-14 advantage with 2:55 left in the thirdquarter.

The Trojans weren’t ready to quit. Co-Lin fumbled at thenine-yard line and Delta recovered. Going into the fourth quarter,the Trojans scored seven points on a keeper from King to cut theWolves’ lead to 42-21 with 14:10 remaining in the game.

With 9:59 left, Delta struck again on a two-play, 69-yardtouchdown pass from King to wide receiver Jeremy Matthews to trimthe deficit to 42-28.

The Wolves scored again after defensive back Aaron Pitts pickedoff his second King pass of the night at the Trojan 49 with 6:25remaining in the game. Yarborough took the ball for five rushes for38 yards to set up Brown’s two-yard burst around the left cornerfor the final six points. Co-Lin pushed its lead up to 48-28 with4:35 showing.

Delta still had enough left for one more final score that cameon a one-yard pass from King to runningback Willie Collins with notime left. The attempt for two points was stopped by the Co-Lindefense held for a 48-34 victory.

Chapman led the Co-Lin receivers with four catches for 123yards. On the ground, Yarborough had 11 rushes for 50 yards.

“It was a good team win for us,” added Cross. “The offense anddefense complimented each other. We are 3-0 and I don’t think wehave played our best game.”

Co-Lin plays its first South Division game next Thursday nightat Southwest. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Southwest hosts Jones CountySaturday night.