By Myra Bean

It was a game of missed opportunities.

North Panola (0-5) played through its fourth shutout of the season, a 28-0 loss to Kennedy High School of Mound Bayou Friday night.

Some improvement has been seen by the team as the season progresses like a decrease in points allowed. In the first three games, the Cougars gave up at least 35 points per game. The last two games the Cougars have given up 25 and 28, respectively.

The players are playing four quarters of football instead of giving up before halftime.

Injury is taking its toll on the linemen and first year head coach Robert Hunter is forced to engage freshmen in those positions. Therefore, bad snaps are still wreaking havoc on the offensive game-plan. Quarterback Martavius Butler was picking the ball off the ground with every other snap and losing valuable time which gave the Hornet defense time to get to him to the tune of minus 26 yards on 16 carries.

Rushing yards came by the way of Tony Hibbler, 14 yards; Chris Conner and Cedric Clay, 10 yards each.
There was an improvement on turnovers. North Panola only committed one, a late game interception.
However, that interception was returned for a Kennedy touchdown with 5:46 to go in the game.

The Cougar defense held strong. Kennedy led 6-0 after a first quarter touchdown that stood until the fourth quarter. Kennedy scored three touchdowns, including the interception pick six, in the fourth quarter.

Jaquay Daniels intercepted a Kennedy pass, his first of the year, with 7:57 left in the game, but the Cougars were unable to convert it to points. Qyndarius Russell and Steve Russell accounted for two sacks of the Kennedy quarterback. Tony Hibbler had 10 tackles, one for loss yards.

The Cougars had 64 receiving yards for a total of 72 offensive yards. Kennedy had 289 yards of offense.

Jatavius Farmer led with 32 yards on three receptions. Willie Hibbler had 15 yards on one reception. Conner had 14 yards on three catches and Robert Oliver had three yards on one catch.

The Cougars will be celebrating homecoming this week with the theme “Sounds of Motown.” The Cougars will host M.S. Palmer of Marks Friday and will crown the homecoming queen at halftime.

This week, the annual coronation will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The parade will start at 5 p.m. Friday.