By Brad Greer

No one could have told North Panola their  preseason scrimmage against Coldwater Friday night would not count for something.

As the Cougars hit the field in front of their jacked-up fans with “Get Crunked” blasting over the PA system, nothing resembled the team that is coming off back-to-back one-win season.

Led by the rifle arm of quarterback Martavious Butler and a defense that surrendered only 12 yards of total offense, North Panola blasted Coldwater 30-6 in the two 20-minute sessions.

“The atmosphere was great tonight and these kids needed some success on the field, whether it was a jamboree or a playoff game. These guys needed any kind,” said Cougar head coach Derek King.

North Panola took a 2-0 lead in an unusual way as Coldwater was flagged for holding in the endzone that resulted in a safety with 8:45 remaining in the first half.

The Cougar defense flexed its muscles on the following possession as Brandon Conner’s fumble recovery on the Coldwater 16 set up the first North Panola touchdown of the game. Butler hooked up with Jatavious Farmer on a 10-yard scoring strike to give the homestanding Cougars an 8-0 lead after the two-point conversion failed with 3:23 remaining before halftime.

Coldwater’s only score came on the opening kickoff of the second half as Marcell Newsom broke four would-be tacklers at his own goal line and raced the length of the field for a touchdown to make the score 8-6 after North Panola stuffed the two-point conversion.

The Cougars would not lose their composure however as on the ensuing possession, Butler tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jaquay Daniels on 4th-and-18 from the Coldwater 22 to expand their lead to 14-6 with 13:53 remaining in the contest.

North Panola’s defense set up yet another score as Tony Hibbler pounced on a fumble at the Coldwater nine-yard line. Cedric Clay bolted his way into the endzone on the first play from scrimmage followed by a two-point conversion run to extend the lead, 22-6.

Butler put an exclamation point on the game with 3:18 remaining as he zipped a 37-yard scoring strike to 6’4”, inch, 205-pound sophomore wideout Willie Hibbler to make the score 30-6 after Butler called his own number on the two-point conversion attempt.

“I thought Martavious played very well tonight. He kept his eyes down field at his receivers and had the instincts to run with the ball when he had to. The offensive line did a solid job on giving him time to throw the ball. Another key to the game was we did not have any turnovers and that is always a plus right there,” said King.

Butler ended the night eight-of-nine passing for 142 yards while Clay finished the contest as the leading rusher with 34 yards on six carries. Farmer hauled in four catches for 61 yards while Daniels added a pair of receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Willie Hibbler and Clay reeled in one catch for 37 and (-3) yards each. North Panola was penalized seven times for 60 yards while Coldwater was flagged four times for 30 yards.

 The Cougars open up the 2012 season Friday night at Tunica Rosa Fort in a 7:30 kickoff.