The Mac Bezet era got off to an exciting start Friday night asthe host Enterprise Yellow Jackets edged the Wesson Cobras 34-32 ina see-saw battle at Harry L. Cole, Sr. Field. The win gaveEnterprise a 1-0 mark on the young season while Wesson fell to0-1.

Bezet said his squad was “just looking for a place to lay downin the first half. We had to see how much heart we had in thesecond half. It was a great game for the fans, but it was hard fora 60-year-old coach.”

Wesson took a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter afterrecovering an Enterprise fumble. The Cobras marched 63 yards oneight plays, culminating in a four-yard score from Brian Channellat the 7:50 mark. It was the first of Channell’s four scores on thenight and the only points of the period. The PAT attempt wasunsuccessful.

The Jackets took their first lead early in the second quarterwhen tailback Terrell May reached the end zone on an eight-yardscramble to cap a 10-play, 60-yard drive at the 10:50 mark of thequarter. Wayne Nations added the extra point for a 7-6 lead.

Wesson matched the Enterprise score and regained the lead on itsnext possession. A 28-yard strike from quarterback Micah Davis toCorey Puckett and Channell’s two-point conversion run, put theCobras ahead 14-7 with 7:20 to go in the half.

Channell’s second touchdown came with 1:50 left in the half. Thenine-yard run ended a short five-play, 40-yard drive. The extrapoint attempt failed leaving the score at 20-7.

The Yellow Jackets proved they weren’t going to be put awayeasily. After turning the ball back to Wesson on downs with onlyseconds to play in the half, the hosts brought the crowd to itsfeet when junior cornerback Blake McKee intercepted a Davis passand raced 60 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the half. Atwo-point conversion attempt was no good, leaving the score at20-13 at intermission.

Still riding the high from McKee’s touchdown, the Jackets tiedthe score only 15 seconds into the second half. Trey Herringtonrecovered a fumbled kickoff by the Cobras to give Enterprise theball on Wesson’s 20-yard line. May scored on the next play. SethHopkins added the PAT to knot the score at 20-all.

Wesson regrouped to score the final points of the quarter on itsnext possession. Taking over on its own 42-yard line, the Cobrasreached paydirt on a 16-yard run by Channell ending an 11-playdrive at the 5:50 mark. The extra point attempt failed leaving thescore at 26-20.

Enterprise reached into its bag of tricks to retake the lead forgood on its first possession of the fourth quarter. QuarterbackCory Everett fired a pass to Herrington who then flipped the ballto May. Breaking open, May then raced 31 yards into the end zonewith 10:00 to play in the game. Hopkins’ kick gave the YellowJackets a 27-26 advantage.

A 32-yard punt return by McKee set up the Jackets’ final pointsof the night. After taking over the ball at the Cobras’ 41-yardline, Enterprise needed only four plays to reach paydirt. May didthe honors on a 12-yard run with 6:20 to play. Hopkins’ PAT leftthe score at 34-26.

Wesson showed it was still in the game on its next possession. Aone-yard dive by Channell with 2:45 to play in the game ended aneight-play, 56-yard drive. The Davis two-point conversion run cameup short as his feet entered the end zone, but the ball didn’t.

A recovered onside kick helped the Cobras make it to theEnterprise 28-yard line as the game neared its end. However, thedrive made it no farther as the ball went back to the Jackets ondowns with one second left.

“We played very tough on both sides of the ball”, said Wessonfirst-year head coach Tommy Clopton. “I can’t be more proud of oureffort.”

May led the way for Enterprise on offense with 156 yards andthree touchdowns on 24 carries. He also had a 31-yard touchdownreception. McKee added 35 yards and Alex Powell chipped in with 25yards.

Everett completed two of eight passes for 23 yards, includingthe touchdown strike to May. Herrington also had a reception.

On defense, Erik Clark led the Enterprisedefenders with 14 total tackles. Chris Moak recorded 12 tackles anda quarterback sack while Powell chipped in with 10 tackles. McKeehad one pass interception and a fumble recovery while Herringtonrecovered a muffed kickoff.

Tuffy Thompson led the Cobras with 9 tackles. Landon Beasleyadded 6 tackles.

Channell topped the Wesson offense with 170 yards rushing andfour touchdowns on 28 carries. Andy Highfill and Davis added 25 and23 yards rushing, respectively.

Davis completed five of seven passes, all to Puckett, for 69yards and a touchdown. He had one pass picked off.

Enterprise takes to the road this week as the Jackets travel toLoyd Star to meet the Hornets in the annual Sting Bowl. Wessonreturns home to host the West Lincoln Bears.