Smith directs Wesson over Bogue Chitto Bobcats

Published 6:00 pm Sunday, September 5, 2010

BOGUE CHITTO — Wesson senior quarterback Matt Smith scored twotouchdowns and passed for another as the Wesson Cobras defeated theBogue Chitto Bobcats 32-13 Friday night on Troy Smith Field. Thewin improved Wesson to a 2-0 record and left Bogue Chitto with a2-1 worksheet.

“Turnovers were the biggest difference in the ballgame,” is whatBogue Chitto head coach Gareth Sartin said about the game. Two ofthe Bobcats’ fumbles ended up as Cobra touchdowns.

The game started off with Bobcat dominance as they started theirfirst drive from the 10-yard line. They started a 6-minute,12-play, 60-yard drive that ended in a turnover on downs. TheCobras took over on their own 30 yard line with 5:55 left in thefirst quarter. After a 12-yard run by Stephen Jones, the Cobraswent three and out and punted the ball back to the Bobcats.

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The Bobcats took over on their own 21 and started another longdrive. After two long runs by Colton McClendon and Reid Bales, theBobcats punched in the ball six plays later on a 1-yard touchdownrun by James Blackwell. The point after was good by Garrett Wallaceand the Bobcats led 7-0 with 9:55 left in the second quarter.

The Cobras answered back. Wesson took over on its 31-yard line.After 7 plays and a 24-yard run by Jones, Smith took the ball infrom 33-yards out. He ran the two point conversion and the Cobrasled 8-7 with 4:41 left in the half.

Following a 38-yard return by Brandon Wells, the snap exchange toquarterback Brock Roberts was muffed and the fumble recovered byWesson sophomore Corey McPherson. The Cobras took the ball at their42 with 3:43 left in the half and marched the ball down the fieldwith a big pass from Smith to Paxton Cupit for 22 yards. Seniorreceiver D.J. Coleman took the reverse for 23 yards and atouchdown. The 2-point conversion was no good and the Cobras led14-7 with 1:09 left in the half.

The turnover bug would bite BC again. The next snap was bad andwent through the legs of Roberts. Junior lineman Barron Miller ofWesson recovered the ball on Bogue Chitto’s 3-yard line. On thenext play, Smith took the ball in for a touchdown and made it 20-7to finish the half.

The Cobras started the second half just as they finished the firstone. On the second play of their drive, Smith found Coleman on aquick pass and Coleman then turned the catch into an 81-yardtouchdown. The 2- point conversion was unsuccessful and the Cobrasled 26-7 with 11:00 left in the third quarter.

The Bobcats got the ball and finished an 8-play drive that washighlighted by a Roberts pass to Germie Martin who dove in the backof the end zone to catch the 4 yard TD. The 2-point wasunsuccessful and Wesson’s lead was cut to 26-13 with 3:59 left inthe quarter.

Later in the 4th quarter, the Bobcats took over on their 22. On arollout pass by Roberts, he decided to turn the ball upfield andget the first down on a 17-yard run. Roberts was tackled by PeytonCupit. A hush fell over the crowd as Cupit stayed on the groundwith a neck injury. He was attended to by the on-sight medicalstaff. After a 29-minute delay he was carried to the hospital byambulance as a precautionary measure and spent the night atKDMC.

A few plays later, the Bobcats turned the ball over on downs. Acombination of runs by Smith, Jones, and Wilson ate up the clockand Wilson scored from 12 yards out to make it 32-13.

“Our guys kept bouncing back when things didn’t go their way,” saidWesson coach Tommy Clopton. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. Theykeep finding a way to win. They refused to lose again.”

Offensive leaders for Bogue Chitto were Roberts who was 7-of-20 for151 yards and a touchdown. McClendon had 67 yards rushing on 9carries and 11 yards receiving. Reid Bales had 7 carries for 43yards. Martin had 3 catches for 53 yards with a touchdown. ChrisHall had two catches for 67 yards.

Defensively Bogue Chitto’s Kevin Brothern led the team with 12tackles followed by Jeremy Blackwell with 9 tackles and a fumblerecovery. Jermaine Blackwell had 6 tackles.

The offensive leaders for Wesson were Smith who was 5 of 7 for 139yards and a touchdown plus 10 rushes for 41 yards and 2 touchdowns.Jones had 17 carries for 70 yards. Wilson had 6 carries for 48yards and a touchdown. Coleman had 2 catches for 89 yards and atouchdown and had 23 yards on one rush for a touchdown. PaxtonCupit had 3 catches for 50 yards.

Defensively, Wilson led Wesson with 12 tackles. He was followed byPayton and Paxton Cupit with 10 tackles each.