The host Enterprise Fighting Yellow Jackets could not stop theLoyd Star Hornets from making the big plays Friday night in theannual Sting Bowl. Loyd Star returned a kickoff and a punt fortouchdowns and cashed in a pair of turnovers for TDs on their wayto a 48-16 Region 6-2A win over the Jackets on Harry ColeField.

With the win, Loyd Star improved to 3-1 in the region and 8-1 onthe season. The Hornets are tied with Wesson for second place inthe region. Enterprise fell to 3-6 overall and remains winless inthe region with an 0-4 worksheet.

“I was proud of our effort,” said Loyd Star head football coachRyan Ross following the win. “I wanted to win clean. We played alittle sloppy (two turnovers) but we had some take-a-ways. I hopeour guys will listen and clean up some things and see what we cando to get better.”

Loyd Star travels to Hinds AHS Friday for the final game of theregular season. Enterprise invades Madison St. Joe. Both are regiongames and start at 7 p.m.

“Loyd Star is a good football team,” said Enterprise headfootball coach Wayne Rogers. “You can’t take nothing away fromthem. We’re still not doing what we are supposed to do. We give upthe big plays.”

Loyd Star took the opening kickoff and scored on an 83-yardreturn by Tradareous Wilson for the touchdown and a 6-0 lead at the11:49 mark.

Enterprise drove to the Loyd Star 10 but fumbled. The Hornetstook over at the 4 and on the first play, Wilson squeezed throughthe middle for an 92-yard touchdown dash. Quarterback Joseph Shelbyran for the 2-point conversion and pushed the visitors lead to 14-0with 3:25 left in the first quarter.

Three plays later, the Jackets fumbled again and the Hornetstook control at the hosts’ 47. Eight plays later, Shelby connectedwith Fred Clark for a 14-yard touchdown with 11:05 showing in thesecond quarter. Chris Buie kicked the PAT (his first of three) topush Loyd Star’s lead to 21-0.

On Enterprise’s next possession, the Jackets fumble on theirfirst play and the Hornets took over the Enterprise 15. Loyd Starran off 3 plays before Shelby scored from 5 yards out on a keeperas the visitors pushed their lead to 28-0 with 9:53 remaining inthe first half.

The Jackets got a big break by recovering a Hornet fumble attheir 47-yard line. Enterprise ran off 9 plays to set up an 8-yardpass play from quarterback Cody Brister to Aaron Prather for theTD. Brister connected with Prather for the 2-point conversion andcut the deficit to 28-8 with 19.6 seconds remaining.

Two possessions earlier, the Jackets recovered a Hornet fumblebut were unable to convert it.

Enterprise took the kickoff in the third quarter and controlledthe football for 7:38 minutes before turning the football back overto Loyd Star at the Hornet 4-yard line with 4:22 remaining.

The Hornets ran off 6 plays to score on a 27-yard run by MarquisSims and increase their lead to 35-8 following a missed extra pointkick.

The Jackets turned the football over on their first play fromtheir 25. Three plays later, Shelby hit Adrian Newton on a 17-yardpass for the touchdown as Loyd Star led 41-8.

Enterprise scored its second TD of the game with 5:47 remainingon a 24-yard pass-play from Brister to Garrett Greer. Brister alsoran the 2-point conversion and trimmed the deficit to 41-16.

On the kickoff, Hayes exploded for an 85-yard TD return to pushthe visitors lead to 48-16 with 5:35 showing on the clock.

The Enterprise ground game was led by Brister with 17 carriesfor 104 yards. Prather carried 17 times for 40 yards. Greerfinished with 9 carries for 108 yards.

In the air, Brister completed 4 of 10 passes for 42 yards forthe Jackets. Prather caught 2 passes for 17 yards.

Sims powered the Loyd Star running game with 12 carries for 96yards. Wilson rushed 7 times for 156 yards.

In the air, Shelby completed 5 of 10 passes for 107 yards.Leading the receivers was Clark with 2 catches for 47 yards.

Defensively, the Jackets got 12 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries anda sack from linebacker Travis Leggett. Josh Nations collected 8tackles. Making 6 stops was Kevin Brizzard. Jake Walker and Bristercollected 5 tackles.

Linebackers David Fields and T.J. Floyd directed the Hornetdefense with 13 tackles apiece. Travis Sorrels made 10 tackles.Sims followed with 8 stops and Newton with 6.

Recovering a fumble apiece were Anthony Thompson, Clark, Floydand Sorrels. Newton also picked off a pass.