By Myra Bean

North Panola’s 42-8 homecoming victory was highlighted with the crowning of the 2012 queen and king Daryleshia Ward and Renzell Oliver.

North Panola showed no mercy to the Benton County Buccaneers in their first season of playing football as the senior-dominated Cougar defense held Benton County to only 13 total offensive yards.

Senior linebacker Tony Hibbler had two and a half sacks on the night, sharing a sack with Aaron Kimmons. Izear Farmer and Virgil Jones recovered two fumbles each. Farmer’s returned one for a touchdown which was negated by a block in the back penalty.

North Panola did most of its damage in the first half, taking a 26-0 lead into the locker room.

The Cougars scored two touchdowns in the second half, an 85-yard kickoff return by sophomore athlete Willie Hibbler to start off the half an a three-yard run by Justin Conner to close out the scoring for the Cougars with 7:52 left in the third quarter.

With a running clock the second half, North Panola only had three offensive plays in the half. One resulted in a safety in the fourth quarter.

Benton County scored its only touchdown with eight seconds left in the game on a pass from quarterback Demarcus Fifer to Damion Williams. The two-point conversion failed.

Scoring for the Cougars were Cedric Clay, three touchdowns on runs of five, 34 and five yards; Conner, two touchdown on runs of one and three yards and the return by Hibbler.

The Cougars will begin district play on the road Friday at M. S. Palmer in Marks at 7:30 p.m.