The Enterprise Fighting Yellow Jackets broke into the win columnFriday night with a 33-20 victory over the visiting West LincolnBears in a Region 4-1A game that was marred by penalties. The twoteams were penalized a combined 22 times for 175 yards. The winmoved the Jackets to 1-2 on the season and 1-0 in Region 4-1A. TheBears fell to 0-3 and 0-1 in the region.

“This was the worst officiated game I’ve ever been a part of, asa player or coach,” said West Lincoln head coach Brooks Burns.”But, that had nothing to do with the outcome. Our guys didn’tquit. Enterprise was just better than us tonight.”

Enterprise picked up the first points of the night with 4:42 toplay in the first quarter on a one-yard dive by quarterback RodneyBarker, ending a short 23-yard drive. Elliot McKee hit the PAT fora 7-0 score.

The Bears quickly answered with a touchdown of their own with3:26 to play in the quarter. Quarterback Jeremey Byrd electrifiedthe crowd with the first of three touchdowns on the night, a 65-yard run, to end a three-play, 77-yard march. A failed extra pointattempt left the score 7-6 at the end of the opening stanza.

A Ky Mathas fumble recovery led to the next Enterprise score.Taking over on the West Lincoln 23-yard line, the Jackets neededonly three plays to extend their lead with an 11-yard run by M. T.Martin with 11:41 to play in the first half. McKee’s PAT made thescore 14-6.

Enterprise scored the final points of the first half with 5:45to play as Barker tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Zach Jacksonto end a five-play, 76-yard drive. The drive was highlighted byruns of 38 and 29 yards by Deon Pendleton. McKee’s PAT was blocked,leaving the score at 20-7 at the intermission.

The Jackets wasted little time getting on the board in thesecond half. A 36-yard Barker to Cody Brister TD pass and McKee’sPAT kick gave the hosts a 27-6 advantage with 9:15 to play in thethird quarter.

Byrd scored his second touchdown of the night for the Bears on a34-yard run with 3:10 to play in the quarter to end a three-play,90-yard drive. The score was aided by Kevin Lofton’s 56-yard passto Steven Adams. Lofton ran for the two-point conversion making thescore 27-14.

Enterprise ended the third-quarter scoring with 0:15 to play.Barker fired a 57-yard strike to Jackson in the end zone. A failedextra point attempt left the score at 33-14.

The Bears scored their final points of the night with 6:05 leftin the game. Byrd ran 15 yards to close out a 13-play, 79-yarddrive. A failed two-point conversion attempt left the finalscore.

“I told our players if they played four quarters like theyplayed the third quarter last week (against Loyd Star), we couldwin”, said Enterprise head coach Roe Burns. “Our defense playedbetter. Our receivers ran good routes. Rodney Barker threw the ballwell.” Burns also added that “West Lincoln played hard. They’regetting better.”

Pendleton led the way for Enterprise on the ground. The freshmanrunning back picked up 122 yards on only six carries. Martin had 48carries and a touchdown on six carries.

Barker completed six of 12 passes for 133 yards and threetouchdowns. He was picked off once. Brister completed his only passfor five yards.

Jackson caught four passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns totop the Enterprise receiving corps. Brister hauled in two passesfor 44 yards and a score. McKee had a five-yard reception.

Byrd led the Bears’ running game with 125 yards and three scoreson 11 carries. Josh Reno had 51 rushing yards.

Lofton, Jones and Reno combined to complete three of five passesfor 114 yards. Catching the passes were Adams (56 yards), Jones (34yards) and Reno (24 yards).

Reno punted twice for a 28.5 average.

On defense, linebackers Jamie Rushing and LeeJones led the Bears with 11 tackles apiece. Lofton had 9 tacklesand a fumble recovery. Reno intercepted a pass.

Both teams will be on the road this week. Enterprise visits thepowerful Mt. Olive Pirates while West Lincoln travels to NatchezCathedral for region action.