Carroll, Co-Lin ambush Itawamba Indians
Published 6:00 am Monday, November 6, 2006
WESSON – The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolves had a loton their minds Saturday night in H.L. Stone Stadium. The Wolfpackwas one game away from playing for the Mississippi Association ofCommunity and Junior Colleges state championship. More importantly,they wanted to avenge an earlier loss to Itawamba.
Mission accomplished. Behind a 2-touchdown performance fromCo-Lin wideout Damoyn Carroll, the Wolves soundly defeated theIndians 38-10. Carroll, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound sophomore fromHazlehurst, scored on a 32-yard reverse; plus catching a 15-yardtouchdown pass from quarterback Cedric Johnson.
“We were seeking revenge against them,” said Carroll who wasreferring to the 24-13 loss to Itawamba on Sept. 7. “It feels goodto be playing for the state championship.”
The Wolves (8-2) will host the Pearl River Community CollegeWildcats Saturday night in Stone Stadium. Pearl River beatNorthwest 31-21 at Senatobia Saturday. Co-Lin upset then No.1-Pearl River 31-21 in September.
Itawamba, coached by Jeff Terrill, concludes its season at8-2.
The Indians used their second possession of the game to taketheir only lead of the game. A 7-play, 58-yard scoring marchconcluded with a 29-yard field goal by freshman place-kicker RogerPorter with 7:52 left in the opening stanza.
Co-Lin, coached by Glen Davis, would respond on the ensuingkickoff. Johnson, from Americus, Ga., found Meadville’s DeAndreDavis with a 35-yard scoring strike and 4:38 remaining in theopening quarter. Nick Gunter’s PAT kick was successful and theWolfpack realized a 7-3 advantage.
Key play in the drive was a 17-yard run by Carroll on areverse.
“We had some guys that stepped up and made some plays tonight,”said Davis. “I can not say enough about how Damoyn playedtonight.”
Carroll would finish the game with 2 carries for 49 yards and atouchdown; along with 3 catches for 75 yards and a TD.
Johnson used his legs to score the Wolfpack’s second TD. With13:50 left in the first half, Johnson broke a mass of Indianwould-be tacklers (6) for a 49-yard touchdown. Co-Lin carried a14-3 lead into the halftime locker room.
Coach Davis’ squad got a 32-yard Carroll touchdown run and a25-yard field goal from Gunter in the third. Indian quarterbackTyson Lee found Devin Hill with a 6-yard touchdown pass. Itawambastill trailed 24-10 entering the fourth period.
A turnover would be the momentum-changer in the second half. Offa Gunter punt, Itawamba appeared to be taking the momentum at thestart of the second half. But a muffed punt proved to be disastrousfor the Indians.
Facing a fourth and 11 from the Indian 44, Gunter punted toItawamba. The Indians fielded the punt at the Itawamba 16, moved 1yard and fumbled. Co-Lin’s Jonte’ Marshall recovered the muff atthe Indian 16.
In a single play, Johnson found Carroll with a 16-yard touchdownpass with 12:42 left in the game. The Wolfpack held a comfortable31-10 lead.
“We had some momentum prior to the muffed punt,” Coach Terrillsaid. “That took the momentum away from us tonight.
“We played a great team tonight,” added Terrill. “We have goodcoaches and good players.”
Offensively for Co-Lin, Johnson completed 12-of-22 passes for210 yards. Aaron Johns led the ground game with 69 yards on 17carries.
For Itawamba, Lee threw for 196 yards; completing 10 of 26passes. Ricky Stokes carries 9 times for 26 yards. Chris Wilson ledthe receiving corps with 92 yards on 3 receptions.
“We played hard on both side of the ball,” said Coach Davis. “Wewere banged up, but we played with a lot of heart.”
“This was a big turnaround for us,” Davis said in reflecting onlast year’s 1-6 worksheet. “We have got a lot of support from ouradministration, our area high schools and fans.”