Co-Lin Wolves in Saturday road test
Published 5:00 am Monday, September 15, 2003
WESSON – Superlative speed will challenge Co-Lin’s strongdefense Saturday afternoon in Clarksdale when the Wolves visit theCoahoma Community College Tigers. Kickoff is 2 p.m.
In other Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Collegegames Saturday, Hinds (0-1) plays at Itawamba (0-1) and Delta (1-0)plays at Jones County (1-0).
Co-Lin defensive coordinator Paul Purvis and secondary coachCalvin Green have been busy preparing their unit for Coahoma. TheTigers lost 43-6 to Southwest last Thursday night at Summit whileCo-Lin was being shut out 15-0 by Mississippi Delta at Moorhead inthe 2003 season openers.
“Coahoma has got a lot of speed at every skill position,” saidPurvis. “They played a lot of freshmen last week and they showedsome first-game jitters.
“As the game progressed, they started to move the footballpretty well. Their quarterback is an athlete and he did a goodjob.”
Johnny Carter of New Orleans and A.J. Lash of Wayne, Ohio,quarterback the Tigers. Their top receiver is Joshua Chapple (6-2,185) from Mays, Ga. Julius McClellen caught 2 balls for 62 yardsagainst Southwest.
Southwest’s defense dominated Coahoma. The Bears limited Coahomato a minus-25 yards rushing and 144 passing.
“We must play technique at every position and responsibilityfootball,” Purvis added. “Everybody has got to know their job.”
Purvis said the Wolves displayed a lot of effort in the loss toDelta. “We are pleased but I know we can play with more intensity.We are not satisfied where we are.”
Memphis is a new recruiting district for Coahoma this year.There are 11 players from Memphis on Coach Freeman Horton’sroster.
“We are going to air it out against Co-Lin,” said new Coahomaoffensive coordinator Darrell Asberry who coached at Jackson Statelast season. “We will throw. If we go three-and-out, then we’llcome right back and do it again.”
Purvis said freshman linebacker Billy Ray Miller sustained abruised sternum against Delta and will sit out the game. FreshmanLemoine Robinson of Hazlehurst will replace him.
Co-Lin recorded 9 sacks against the Trojans. Delta accounted for67 rushing yards and 160 yards passing. The Trojans completed 18 of30 passes and had 52 rushes, giving them 82 offensive plays.
Turnovers led to Co-Lin’s demise. The Wolves fumbled thegame-opening kickoff which led to a quick Delta score. They alsofumbled at the 25-yard line on first down, leading to anotherTrojan TD.
For the game, Delta’s defense recorded 8 sacks and 5 forcedturnovers. The Trojans held Co-Lin to just 57 yards offense.
Co-Lin head coach David Poinsett’s young offensive team mustgrow up in a hurry. They were slowed by turnovers and blownassignments at Delta.
“We have to learn how to block and learn how to execute,”answered Poinsett when asked about making improvements on offense.He said he was undecided about who would start at quarterbackagainst Coahoma.
Sophomore Ty Smith of Natchez and freshmen Johnathan Little ofCharleston, S.C., Brian Hayes of Magee and Johnathan Zacharie ofLoreauville, La., are working at quarterback.
At Southwest, the Bears claimed the MACJC’sSpecial Teams Player of the Week in receiver Reggie Lindsey who had3 kickoff returns for 111 yards, including a 65-yard TD.
Pearl River receiver Larry Brackins caught 5 passes for 162yards and 3 TDs, earning Offensive Player honors. Northwestlinebacker Terrence Smith recorded 11 tackles, 3 for a loss, and 1sack, bagging Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Wolf Tails: Last year Coahoma ended a 3-yearlosing streak by defeating the Wolves 13-3 at Wesson.