Co-Lin upsets No. 20 Pearl River

Published 5:00 am Monday, October 12, 2009

WESSON – Copiah-Lincoln Community College celebrated Homecoming2009 in Stone Stadium Saturday afternoon, with Mary KatherineMcDonnieal being crowned homecoming queen. McDonnieal and her courtwatched as the Wolfpack authored a resounding 42-25 South Divisionwin over the No. 20-ranked Pearl River Community CollegeWildcats.

With the win by the Wolfpack, they improved their worksheet at4-3 overall and 2-2 in the South Division. Pearl River falls to 4-3and 2-3. This is the first time in 6 years that the Wildcats havelost 3 games consecutively.

Co-Lin returns to action Thursday for a South Division encounterwith East Central in Stone Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PearlRiver hosts Southwest for homecoming Saturday.

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“We had numerous opportunities to score tonight, but we couldnot take advantage,” said Pearl River head coach Tim Hatten.”Co-Lin capitalized when they needed to. They have a goodteam.”

A Wildcat miscue on their initial possession set Co-Lin’s firstscore of the day.

The Wolfpack used an 11-play, 43-yard drive to take the early 7-0lead. Tywon Lee (5-11, 210), a sophomore from Magee, dove into theend zone from 1 yard out. Tyler Fitzgerald’s first of 6 successfulPAT kick was good on a long 5-minute, 9-second march with 6:53 leftin the first frame.

The Wildcats took the ensuing kickoff and went 65 yards in 12plays, but managed a 27-yard Travis Bradley field goal.

Following the Pearl River kickoff and a 28-yard return byHazlehurst freshman Fred Fuller, Co-Lin struck quickly with a1-play, 61-yard touchdown run by Titus Mobley. The Wolfpack led14-3 at the 47-second mark of the first.

Co-Lin, coached by Glenn Davis, used a bit of trickery to extendtheadvantage to 21-3 late in the first half. With a fourth and 3from the Wildcat 46, the Wolfpack lined up to punt. A direct snapto upback Dequan Menzie resulted in a 46-yard touchdown jaunt.

Hatten’s ballclub closed their deficit to 21-10 on their nextpossession. Quarterback Emil Jones found Sam Robinson with a 3-yardtouchdown pass. Bradley’s PAT was good as the Wildcats trailed atthe intermission.

Davis’ squad got a 36-yard Lee touchdown run at the 11:48 markof the third stanza for a 28-10 Co-Lin lead. But Wildcat DesmondRatliff returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.

Following a three-and-out by Co-Lin, Pearl River used 2:37 offthe clock; marching 85 yards in 7 plays. Jones hit Serggio Judkinswith 25-yard scoring pass. Jones again hit Judkins with asuccessful 2-point conversion pass to trim their deficit to 28-25with 6:35 left in the third.

The Co-Lin defense came to life after that score, as five ofPearl River’s 7 possessions in the second half wentthree-and-out.

“Our defense got us stops when we needed them,” said CoachDavis. “There were times when we could have folded, but we did notgive up.”

Wolfpack quarterback Percy Turner tacked on a pair of fourthquarter touchdown passes to Titus Mobley (27 yards) and Jordan Hunt(4 yards) to ensure a happy homecoming. Turner was 14 of 22 for 138yards with no interceptions.

“We are basically playing for pride now,” Coach Davis told histeam. “We take each game one game at a time; trying to finish theseason on a good note.”

Lee led the Co-Lin offense with 192 yards of total offense; 158rushing on 29 carries (2 TDs) and 3 catches for 34 yards. Mobleyfollowed with 6 rushes for 72 yards and 3 receptions for 38 yards(1 TD).

Ratliff led Pearl River with 11 catches for 107 yards. Jones was19 of 48 for 202 yards and was intercepted by Brookhaven nativeCharles Rancifer in the fourth quarter.