By Myra Bean

Though happy with a  56-28 Cougar win Friday night, head coach Clifton Davis Sr. was not happy with the team’s fourth quarter performance.

North Panola downed Coahoma County in its opening game Friday night, but after the game Davis cautioned the team about relaxing before the final buzzer against a team like Ripley coming to town tonight.

“We made a lot of errors in the first half, blocking errors, weren’t catching football,” the second year coach said. “We weren’t concentrating. Defensively, we played well. About a six or seven-minute span there in the second half, we didn’t do anything. We relaxed a little when we got away.”

Ripley, coming off a 12-1 2007 season where they lost to the eventual state champion Louisville in the north half championship, defeated New Albany 27-14 last week.

North Panola had a 48-6 with 9:54 left in the game. Coahoma County reeled off three touchdown passes, 62, 54 and 18, respectively, in five minutes and 17 seconds to close the lead.

“We can’t have those lapses where we lose concentration,” Davis said. He contributed to the breakdown to the youth and inexperience of the team.

“We are still relatively young. We have  a lot of people coming back. We only have a few seniors on this team, most are juniors and sophomores and that happens,” DAvis said. “I was happy we got the win. I thought we sort of wore them down a little bit. They (Coahoma) played with a lot of passion and a lot of heart.”

Coahoma came to town with 20 players on the roster.

Sophomore quarterback Quin Ellis was responsible for four rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.

He scored on a one-yard run with 9:39 on the first quarter clock, aided by a 58-yard run by junior running back Vernon Lewis to set up the play.

Ellis scored the Cougars’ lone touchdown in the second quarter on an 11 yard run with 3:33 left in the half. Both two-point conversions failed and the Cougars led 12-6 at the half.

Coahoma scored on a two-yard run with 5:20 left in the second quarter to even the score at six. Coahoma had an opportunity to take the lead on a point after touchdown (PAT) kick, but the  kick was blocked.

Credited with sacks in the second quarter were Cougars sophomore defensive back Brandon Cauthen and freshman linebacker Chris Davis.

The Cougars took a 34-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

Ellis scored on an 11-yard run with 8:50 to go and running back Darius Loveberry converted the two-point attempt for the 20-6 lead.

Senior running back Rodregus Salter scored on a two-yard run with 4:09 left in the quarter, but the two-point attempt failed. The possession started on an interception by Loveberry with 7:03.

On second down and 23 from the one, senior linebacker Tyrus Mack sacked Coahoma for a safety to go up 28-6 with 3:33 left in the third. Coahoma started at the 14 yard line, but four penalties backed them up, block in the back, illegal participation, holding and illegal procedure.

The final score of the third quarter was a 15-yard run by Lewis with 3:03 on the clock. The two-point conversion failed.

Coahoma was hitting on all cylinders in the fourth quarter, but the Cougars scored three more touchdowns to keep them at bay and secure the win.

Ellis found sophomore wide receiver Kiwanis Bobo for a 20-yard pass touchdown with 9:54 to go in the game. Lewis scored the two-point conversion for the 42-6 lead.

Coahoma scored on a 62 yard pass and the two-point conversion to cut the lead 42-14.

The Cougars answered with a 20 yard run by Lewis with 6:49 and the two-point run by Ellis to go 50-14.

Coahoma converted it’s next possession on a 54 yard touchdown pass with 4:25 to go. The two-point conversion failed and the score stood 50-20.

With 4:24 to go in the game North Panola fumbled the ball and Coahoma recovered it on the Cougar 18 yard line. On first and 10 from the 18, Coahoma scored on an 18-yard pass with 3:50 left in the game. With the two-point conversion, the Cougar lead had been cut to 50-28.

The Cougars got back in the game and turned a Loveberry interception into a 25-yard touchdown run by Ellis with 1:40 left in the game. The two-point conversion fell and the score stood 56-28.

Leading scorer for the Cougars was Lewis with 223 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. Other rushers include Ellis, 73 yards, 11 carries, four touchdowns; Salter, 65 yards, 12 carries, one touchdown; Cauthen, 25 yards, five carries; and Ricky Hunt, 10 yards, one carry.

Ellis completed four of 15 pass attempts for 79 yards and one touchdown.

Leading receiver was Marquee Phillips with 39 yards and two catches, followed by Hunt, 21 yards, one reception; and Bobo, 19 yards, one reception, one touchdown.

North Panola had 475 yards in total offense, including 396 rushing yards and 79 passing. Coahoma County had 165 total offense with 128 passing and 37 rushing.