By Myra Bean

North Panola kicked off the 2012 football season on the road at Tunica Rosa Fort Friday but not in the fashion they had envisioned.

Rosa Fort shut out the Cougars for the second straight year, 30-0 score.

There was a difference in the game – both schools fielded much-improved teams.

North Panola played a close first half but gave up 14 points to Rosa Fort, nine yards and one yard runs, respectively.

It was the fourth quarter when North Panola seemed to run out of gas.

The Cougars threw three interceptions within nine minutes. The first was returned for a 30-yard touchdown with 9:49 left in the game.

The second interception capped an eight-play, 87-yard drive with 2:13 left in the game. The third occurred with 53.3 seconds left in the game.

The North Panola defense garnered after game praises from first-year head coach Derek King for playing hard the whole game because it was on the field much of the game.

Getting sacks were Rondarius Hunt and Daven Huey (two). Getting tackles for loss yards were Aaron Kimmons, Tony Hibbler and Izear Farmer. Huey and Hunt combined on recovering a fumble in the second quarter. Hunt caused the fumble and Huey recovered. There was one more fumble recovery by the Cougars in the third quarter.

More information on the game, complete stats and reactions from the coach will be available in Tuesday’s print edition of The Panolian.