WESSON — The Wesson Cobras (2-4, 1-0) used the lessons learnedin a tough early season schedule to propel themselves to ahard-hitting 33-12 Friday night victory over the archrival LoydStar Hornets (3-3, 0-1) in Stone Stadium. It was the first Region6-2A test for both teams.

The Cobras used an outstanding performance on the line ofscrimmage by both the offensive and defensive lines to wear down ayoung Hornet line and pick up a big district win.

“I thought we played a physical game and won the line ofscrimmage on both sides of the ball,” explained a delighted Cobrafirst-year head coach Tommy Clopton. “We made some mistakes early,but we answered the bell and rose to the occasion.”

The Hornets struck first on the evening. Following a Wessontailback Brian Channell fumble, the Hornets executed a pass fromquarterback Justin Whatley to wide receiver Brent Fells for a27-yard score on a slant route with 4:18 left in the first quarter.Whatley’s PAT was pushed right and the score remained 6-0.

The Cobras would answer the Hornets in less than three minutesas quarterback Micah Davis put together a couple of nifty runs,capping it off with a 1-yard sneak for Wesson’s first score with1:25 left in the period. Blake Brister booted the PAT and Wessonled 7-6.

The Cobra defense would help the cause on the next possession assafety Roy Williams picked off a Whatley pass around midfield. Thisset up Channell on the option pitch to paydirt and gave the Cobrasa 13-6 lead with 6:10 left in the second quarter. The PAT attemptby Brister was blocked.

It looked as if this would be the score at halftime until theCobras capped off a nice drive with only 0:15 remaining. Daviswould target wideout Corey Puckett on a post-corner route for 29yards to extend the Cobra lead to 19-6. Brister’s PAT was nailedand the score stood 20-6 at the half.

It was more of the same at the start of the second half asChannell returned the kickoff 59 yards to set up the Cobras on theshort field. The quick drive was capped off by Channell’s 2 yarddive. Brister’s PAT was good to extend the Cobras’ lead to 27-6with 10:56 left in the third.

The Hornets’ attempt at a comeback was tragically stalled whenan 85-yard touchdown pass to Michael Britt from Whatley was calledback by an untimely holding penalty. The drive never got a chanceto revive because Wesson linebacker Andy Highfill intercepted adeflected Whatley pass attempt.

After several exchanges of punts, the Cobras would light up thescoreboard once again on a 1-yard plunge by fullback Brister.Brister nailed the PAT and the score stood 33-6 with 7:53 remainingin the game.

Tailback Juron Collins gave the Hornets their second TD of theevening with 3:03 left in the game on a 19-yard scamper around theright end. The 2 point try failed as Collins came up 1 yard shy ofthe end zone.

“We never quit,” explained Hornet first-year head coach WadeHenderson. “We played a lot of freshmen and injuries killedus.”

The status of tailback Gary Johnson is in question after anapparent knee injury and Whatley suffered a similar injury.

The Cobras were led offensively by Brister who powered himselfto 79 yards on 11 carries and a TD. Channell contributed to theattack with 72 yards on 19 carries and 2 scores.

The Hornets were led by Fells who snagged 3 catches for 46 yardsand a TD. Collins chipped in 78 yards on 16 carries and ascore.

Defensively, the Cobras were led by linebackerBobbie Harris who garnered 14 tackles on the evening. Defensive endJohn Michael Cliburn added 10 stops. Linebacker Tuffy Thompson had9 tackles. Highfill and Williams had interceptions.

Hornet defensive stats were not available at press time.

The district schedules get tougher this week as the Hornetswelcome undefeated St. Andrew’s (6-0) to Sambo Smith Field forhomecoming at 7:30. The Cobras will entertain the St. Joseph Bruinsat 7:30.