WESSON-The Lawrence County hammered the Wesson Cobras 42-7 in opening-night high school football action Friday night at Co-Lin’s Stone Stadium.

Friday’s game was the LCHS debut for new head coach Herbert Davis, and the Cougars’ performance could be considered nothing short of a spectacular success. In February, Davis took over a Lawrence County program that produced just one win in 11 games last season.

“It’s always good to get a win,” Davis said. “I thought we improved offensively on last week’s jamboree, but I didn’t think we played as well defensively. Special teams were pretty solid. Overall, it was a good night for us.”

Davis had to share the spotlight Friday with his son, freshman quarterback Hayden Davis. Playing in his first high school game, the young signal-caller was spectacular. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Davis’ passing success may have produced a bit of culture shock for LCHS partisans, who have traditionally pounded their way to considerable success with a power running game.

“I thought we did a pretty good job of throwing and catching tonight,” Coach Davis said. “Hayden did have a good night, but that’s just as much a credit to the people doing the blocking and the people on the receiving end of those passes.”

Diminutive senior Tony Maye was Davis’ top receiver. He hauled in five passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Marcus Kees had four receptions.

“This is the ultimate place for us to play our first game,” said Coach Davis, a former Co-Lin player who grew up on the outskirts of Wesson, “for both Hayden and me. We had a lot of kin folks in the Wesson stands, and even a cousin on the Wesson team. It was a very special night.”

Though the scoreboard didn’t show it, Ronald Greer’s Cobras gave it a determined fight. Junior quarterback Tyler Christmas had a pretty big night of his own, completing 13 of 26 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. That score came on a 50-yard pass to Dartavious Dixon. Dixon caught three passes for 75 yards. Farrod Green hauled in five of Christmas’ passes for 59 yards.

Senior Gabraun Smith got the Cougars’ season started in just about the best way possible, returning the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. Moments later, on Lawrence County’s first offensive possession, the Cougars faced a third-and-14 deep in their own territory. Davis hit a streaking Maye in perfect stride for a 64-yard gain. Four plays later, Maye hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass.

Wesson’s next offensive play produced a lost fumble, recovered by LCHS defensive tackle Randy Haynes. Two plays after that, sophomore running back T-Tez Cole put the Cougars up 21-0 with a 15-yard touchdown run, just six minutes into the game.

Early in the second quarter, Hayden Davis scrambled away from trouble and hit Maye for 56 yards and a touchdown. Josh Stephens’ extra point made it a 28-0 game. Wesson’s lone score came with 3:55 left in the first half, when Christmas found Dixon running free down the Lawrence County sideline. C.J. Viramontez kicked the Cobras’ extra point.

With 1:38 left in the half, Davis threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Chandler Lewis, giving the Cougars a 35-7 lead at intermission. Lawrence County’s Jarious Snell tacked on the night’s final points midway through the third quarter, scoring on a two-yard run.

Otis Smith led Wesson in rushing with 39 yards on nine carries. Cole (5-43), LaDerrick McCray (4-50) and freshman Quitten Brown (2-38) each had productive rushing nights for Lawrence County. On defense, McCray and Brown each had a pass interception.

Lawrence County will open at home this Friday against the Brookhaven Panthers. Wesson will travel to Sumrall.