SARDIS – The North Panola Cougars started the district game against Independence on a good note with a first possession 18 yard run into Wildcat territory by Larry Burdette, but things soon turned sour.

North Panola ended the night with a big loss to Independence 28-16.

The Cougars (1-4 overall, 1-1 district) needed this to go into the homecoming this week on a positive note.

Perry Trammell threw the two touchdowns made by the Cougars in the second and the fourth quarters.

Trammell found Roderick Jefferson for a 25-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

On a little trick play for the two-point conversion, Larry Burdette was the passer to Dexter Thomas to cut the Independence lead 14-8 going into halftime.

Independence came out hot in the third quarter and scored on a 13-yard run and a 17 yard pass and a two-point conversion following the pass to go ahead 28-8.

North Panola shut Independence down in the fourth quarter and scored on a Jefferson three yard pass from Trammell. The two-point conversion failed, but the Cougars made up the slack with a safety late in the fourth quarter for the final score of the evening.

The Cougars will be celebrating homecoming all this week. The homecoming queen will be crowned at the annual Homecoming Coronation Wednesday night in the gymnasium. The coronation starts at 7 p.m.

The homecoming queen will be presented Friday night at the homecoming game when the Cougars will host Tunica Rosa Fort.

Rosa Fort is coming off a huge district loss, 51-14, to Senatobia. Rosa Fort is coached by former Cougar coach Clifton Davis Jr.

A homecoming parade will be held in Sardis beginning at 5 p.m.

The victory pushed the season record to 6-0 for Coach Rick Johnston and his squad.

After taking a break from each other since 2001, when the Green Wave defeated Winston, the Green Wave were ready to show the Patriots they were for real once again.

At halftime, Senior Anna Aldridge was crowned Homecoming Queen.

By halftime, junior runningback Dustin Maples had assumed the title of Homecoming King, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter of the game with 10 carries for a 145 yard performance.

The win was pretty much a done deal at the half with the Green Wave up 39-0. Defense was the name of the game for the Green Wave team with the crowd cheering Defense, Defense, Defense. Defend is what the Green Wave did the entire night.

First quarter scores came form Maples on runs of 5 yards, 9 yards and 63 yards.

Jonathan Shedd was one of three in the first quarter on the PAT for the Green Wave for a 19-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Hunter Coy scored on a seven-yard run and Shedd’s extra point was good.

Forrest Wilbanks found Harrison Nickle for a 47-yard pass to Harrison Nickle for the touchdown. Dakota Mabry scored on a 58 yard run for the last touchdown of the first half. Shedd’s kick was good and the Green Wave led 39-0 at the half.

In the first half, Heath Reed and Christain Amberson each had one sack. Nick Douglas had an interception.

To start the third quarter, Hunter Coy took the ball into the endzone from 12 yards out and Shedd’s PAT was good.

The Patriot’s first score came with 7:28 left in the third quarter. Michael Hindman scored on a 17 yard run but the PAT failed.

The Patriots attempted an onside kick but it was recovered by Bryce Raddatz to give the Green Wave possession of the ball. With 3:24 on the clock, Evan West scored on a one yard run. The PAT was no good and the Green Wave led 52-6 at the end of the third quarter.

The Patriots bounced back quickly in the fourth quarter and scored with 11:52 on the clock. Hindman took the ball 24 yards and the two-point conversion by Chaney Paschal was good to cut the Green Wave lead 52-14.

The Patriots scored again with 3:24 left in the game with on a 24-yard run by Hindman and the PAT failed.

The Green Wave came right back and scored on a Mabry 44-yard run with 1:44 left in the game. The PAT gave the Green Wave the winning score 59-20.

Head Coach Rick Johnston said he was very proud of the team. According to Johnston, he was extremely proud of the backup team that came in and played extremely hard.

“They have improved each week,” said Johnston. “A lot of players got some experience tonight which is always good.

"Our starters came out and got the job done early,” Johnston added. “We were able to play a bunch of our second people and our subs. Like I told them, they practice every day, too. It was good to see them play.

Competition is alive and well for some positions on the Green Wave squad, according to Johnston.

“We have got some people in that group who are pushing other folks for their spots and that is good to see. Nick Douglas, in the secondary, had a real good game. He was aggressive and came up and made some plays. He had five or five solo tackles and just a hustler interception. He ran a long way to get it and lay out parallel to get to the football. That is something that is good to see," Johnston said.

In addition to Mabry, the Green Wave had another 100 yard rusher in sophomore Dakota Mabry. Mabry had four carries for 115 yards with 2 touchdowns.

Other rushers include Hunter Coy, 8 carries, 51 yards, 2 touchdowns; Forrest Wilbanks, 4 carries, 51 yards; Harrison Nickle, 6 carries for 59 yards, one 47-yard pass reception for a touchdown; and Evan West, 6 carries, 18 yards, 1 touchdown.

North Delta had 41 carries for 449 rushing yards and Wilbanks was 2 for 4 for 46 passing yards for a total offense of 495. They had 21 first downs and 5 penalties for 50 yards and lost one fumble.

On the other side of the field, the Patriots had 28 carries for 53 yards and they were 10 for 23 for 164 in passing yards to give them a total offense of 217. They had 13 first downs and had four penalties for 15 yards and one interception.