By Myra Bean
North Panola won its fourth straight game with a 50-8 slaughter of district foe Holly Springs Friday night.

The Cougars (4-3 overall, 1-0) district took control of the game from the beginning and never looked back.

The Cougars led 28-0 at the end of the first quarter. On North Panola’s first possession, quarterback Jatavious Farmer scored on a 15-yard run with 11:09 left. The play was set up by a 57-yard run by Farmer. The two-point conversion by Darius Thomas gave the Cougars an 8-0 lead.

Holly Springs fumbled its first possession away and Virgil Thomas recovered in the end zone with 9:06 left for the 14-0 lead as the two-point attempt failed.

North Panola also fumbled its next possession away, but Holly Springs failed to capitalize.
With good field position on the Hawks’ 38-yard line, Thomas scored on a five-yard pass from Farmer with 4:26 left. The play was set up by a 21-yard run by tail back Justin Connor. The two-point conversion by Tevin Wink was good for the 22-0 lead.

The final touchdown of the quarter was a 75-yard run by Connor with 37 seconds to go on the first play of the possession. The two-point conversion failed and the score stood 28-0.

Holly Springs scored what turned out to be its only score with 6:14 left in the first half on a 13-yard run. The two-point conversion run was good to avoid the shutout.

The Cougars scored one touchdown in the second quarter, a 26-yard pass from Farmer to Willie Hibbler with 4:03 left. Thomas scored the two-point conversion for the 34-8 halftime lead.
Both teams were scoreless in the third quarter.

North Panola starters played the first half of the fourth quarter and Robert Oliver scored on a 35-yard pass from Farmer with 6:25 left in the game. That capped a five-play, 70-yard drive. The two-point conversion failed and the score stood 42-8.

The Cougars’ back up players were preparing to let the clock run off with 25 seconds left, but Holly Springs called a time out with 11 seconds to go. Wanting to get their turn, backup quarterback Trai Sanders connected with Devonta Brassell on an 11-yard pass with six seconds left in the game. Sanders ran in the two-point conversion as time expired for the 50-8 win.

The Cougars rolled up 556 yards of total offense, including 391 rushing and 165 passing. Holly Springs had 213 total yards of offense, including 197 rushing.

Connor was the leading rusher with 155 yards on six carries and one touchdown. Other rushers include Farmer, 149 yards and one touchdown.

Farmer completed 10 of 21 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders completed his only attempt for a touchdown.

Leading receiver was Robert Oliver, 70 yards on three receptions, followed by Lucius Walls with 42 yards on two receptions. Hibbler had three receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown. Thomas had one reception for six yards and one touchdown and Brassell had one reception for 11 yards and a touchdown.

Leading the defense was Virgil Jones with seven solo tackles, four assists, one tackle for a loss, one fumble recovery and one touchdown. Jones leads the team in tackles for the season with 43 total.

Other defensive leaders include Brandon Connor, five solo tackles, two assists, one tackle for loss, one sack; Hibbler, five solo tackles, two assists; Mike Hollins, four solor tackles, five assists, one tackle for loss and one sack; and Brandon Wilbourn, who has been injured all year came in and registered three solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one sack.
This week the Cougars are celebrating Homecoming “The 50’s: Grease Lightning Spirit Week.” Friday, the Cougars will host the M. S. Palmer Dragons of Marks with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Spirit days are: Tuesday, Fashion of the ‘50s; Wednesday, Celebrity Raid; Thursday, It’s a White Affair (wear all white); and Friday, Hot Red and Cool Denim.

Other homecoming activities this week include the Coronation Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is $2.

Thursday, the Alumni Step Show will be held in the auditorium at 6 p.m. The admission is $5.
Friday at 4:30 p.m. the homecoming parade will start at 4:30 p.m. at the library.