It was a nice crowd and a nice night for football at Stone Stadium in Wesson as the Wesson Cobras (2-1) played host to the Loyd Star Hornets (3-1).

The Cobras attacked early and often by scoring on their first three possessions.  On Wesson’s opening drive, senior running back JaQuavion Harris got loose and scampered 53 yards for a touchdown. Seth Cone added the extra point and the Cobras were up 7-0 very quickly. 

After holding Loyd Star and forcing a punt, the Cobra offense went back to work as quarterback Antrelle Sims connected with senior wide out Jim Guess with a 47-yard pass and reception which set up a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Jason Edwards. Cone’s extra point was good to put the Cobras up 14-0. 

The Cobras defense held the Hornets again as Guess made a huge defensive play by getting a sack on third down to force the Hornets to punt again. 

Wesson kept the drive alive on fourth and short when the punter Guess faked the punt and got first-down yardage. The following play the Cobras showed a Wildcat formation with junior Damien Smith taking the direct snap and rushing 31 yards for a touchdown. Cone’s kick was good and the Cobras extended the lead to 21-0. 

On the next offensive series the Hornets were able to put something together as they nickled and dimed their way down the field and ended with a four-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Eric Birch.

After a turnover on downs by the Wesson offense, Loyd Star tried to make something happen offensively with 1:26 left to go in the half, but the Cobra defense denied that attempt when senior linebacker Chamar Martin intercepted a Dane Smith pass and returned it to the Loyd Star two-yard line.

That set up a two-yard touchdown run by JaQuavion Harris. The extra point attempt was no good and the Cobras took a commanding 27-7 lead into the half. 

The Hornets came out with some fire in the second half as they forced the Cobra offense into a quick punt. They then put together a 55-yard drive that included a 35-yard run by senior full back Zach Baker and ended with a nine-yard touchdown run by Birch.

After a little defensive battle both ways the Cobras got their offense rolling again as Damien Smith broke loose out of the wildcat formation again and this time for a 26-yard touchdown run.

The Hornets responded as Baker broke loose for 45 yards and put the Hornets in Cobra territory to end the third quarter. 

On the first play of the fourth quarter freshman back Versie Wilson finished the drive with a 30-yard touchdown run to cut the Cobra lead to 33-20, but Loyd Star would not be able to close the gap any closer.

Loyd Star coach Brian Ford said his team could never come back from the fast start by the Cobras.

“We got beat up front early,” said Ford. “I feel that the outcome of the game was determined in the first four minutes. After halftime we tried to put up a fight but we just couldn’t capitalize when we needed to.  Wesson is a solid football team and they showed that tonight.”

Wesson coach Jeremy Loy was pleased with how his team played.

“We had a chance to put the game away but just never could do it. We have to grow up and learn how to put games away in those situations,” said Loy. “Loyd Star has a good team and overall I am proud of our defense for stepping up and playing well against their offense.”

Story by Rusty Newman