By Ike House
North Panola broke its long losing streak against Rosa Fort last season after six years. Friday night   the winning streak ended as the Cougars just could not get it going against the Lions and fell 38-14.

“Tonight nothing was good,” Head coach Derek King said. “The defense started strong but couldn’t finish.”

On the first drive after a three and out, Rosa Fort scored on a 70 yard fake punt touchdown run. With a failed PAT the Lions led 6-0. For North Panola’s first drive penalties hurt as they had a false start and a holding penalty that eventually led to a three and out.

On the Cougars next series they handed the ball back to the Lions on a fumble by Trai Sanders. With a drive starting for the Lions on the 32-yard line, the quarterback threw an interception that was caught by Kordarial Preston.

After another stalled series by the Cougars, Rosa Fort found another path to the endzone by scoring on a run of 37 yards and with the converted PAT the score was 13-0. On the next Cougar drive, after two big runs on by Justin Connor, he fumbled and was recovered by the Lions.

Before the half both teams went to go back and forth with stalled drives. Coming out of the half the Cougars out together a long drive with some big runs but it ended on a fumble by Sanders.
The Lions couldn’t complete another drive and the Cougars had another chance to pull closer. After the Cougars pushed forward for good yards Connor had another fumble.

When the Cougars got the ball back after some key penalties the Cougars finally find the endzone with Connor leading the drive as he scored on a three yard run. With a converted two points the score was 13-8. On the next Rosa Fort drive the Lions scored on their first play from scrimmage on a 16 yard run.

With the failed two point conversion the score was 19-0. For the Cougars next drive the had a sloppy snap that led to Rosa Fort recovery. From there they scored on the first play with a 62 yard run that lead to a 25-8 lead. After two stalled drives by both teams the Cougars found a way to score as Kenneth Jefferson launched a bomb for 54 yards to Kiron Convigton. After a failed two point the score was 25-14. On the next drive for the Lions the broke after two plays for 52 yards. That led the score to be 32-14. The Cougars put together a couple of incomplete drives after that. Then on the Lions next drive the defense stepped up and came up with a fumble recovery by Sylvonta Oliver. On the Cougars last drive Jefferson threw a pick six. That led to the final score being 38-14.

 “We have some work to do in practice the week with certain situations,” King said. The Cougars had over 49 yards in penalties. On offense Jefferson led the passing attack going 4-15 for 94 yards with a touchdown and interception. Connor had 127 yards on 21 carries. Marvin Adams had 31 yards on eight carries. Sanders had 67 yards on eight carries. Jefferson had 24 yards on four carries. Jamaal Leverson had seven yards on two carries and David Burton had -4 yards on one carry. At receiver Convigton had 67 yards on two catches and Sanders had 13 yards on two catches. On defense Oliver led the way with six tackles and a fumble recovery.

Stan Gross had five tackles and five tackles for a loss. Sanders had four tackles and a pass deflection. Kevin Merrell had three tackles and a tackle for loss. Connor also had three tackles. J.J. Toliver had two tackles with two tackles for loss. Convigton had two tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss. Preston had one tackle, an interception and a tackle for loss. Adams had a tackle and a sack. Derrian Ferrell and Leverson had one tackle a piece. The Cougars take on Coahoma Ag. Friday on the Clarksdale field against former standout player and coach Clifton Davis Jr. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m.