NP Football
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 14, 2010
North Panola defensive back Quadarius Cole, No. 5, holds tight to Greenwood’s senior tailback Byron Dirden for the tackle. The Cougars lost to Greenwood 25-8. The Cougars will be on the road to face Senatobia September 24 after this Friday’s open date. The Panolian photo by Myra Bean
By Myra Bean
North Panola envisioned a different record going into the conference season.
The Cougars stand at 0-4 after a 25-8 loss to the Greenwood Bulldogs Friday night in the first home game of the season.
The Cougars were down 12-0 at halftime, but put together a 53-yard, eight-play drive to score as time expired in the third quarter.
Martez Hooks scored the lone touchdown on a three-yard run. The two-point throw from sophomore quarterback Martavious Butler to senior wide receiver Ricky Hunt was good to cut the score 18-8.
The drive was aided by four completed passes from Butler to Hooks and Hunt. Hunt completed a 36-yard reception on a third down and 10.
Greenwood scored in the first quarter on a John Leflore one yard run with 39 seconds left. The kick was no good.
Greenwood scored with 6:02 left in the first half to take a 12-0 lead into halftime on a four yard run by senior running back Byron Dirden. A delay of game penalty moved the ball to the eight yard line and the kick was blocked by Cougar Rashad Burdette.
Senior running back Cedric Matthews scored on an 18-yard run in the third quarter to put the Bulldogs up 18-0 after the kick failed with 10:27 on the clock.
The last Greenwood touchdown came on an interception return by senior defensive end Jesse Crain. As Butler was going to the ground he tried to get the ball to a teammate, but Crain jumped in between them and took the ball 40 yards for the touchdown with 8:59 left in the game.
The extra kick by Alex Johnson was good for the 25-8 lead.
North Panola had 185 yards of total offense including 171 passing yards. Greenwood had 237 yards of total offense, including 165 rushing.
Butler completed 14 of 32 pass attempts for 171 yards and three interceptions.
Hunt was the leading rusher with 21 yards on seven carries followed by Hooks with 20 yards on three carries.
Hunt had 127 receiving yards on nine catches. Hooks had 28 yards on three receptions.
The Cougars are off this Friday, but return to action September 24 to start the district season at Senatobia at 7:30 p.m.
