Cougars go 7-0 for first time in over 30 years

By Ike House
The North Panola Cougars are 1-0 in district play and got the conference win from one of their biggest rivals, Palmer of Marks.
Defense played a big role in the 32-20 victory that puts the Cougars at 7-0 on the season.
“We came out and not only were we 1-0 tonight but we are 1-0 every day this week,” Head coach Carl Diffee said.
The first long drive of the Cougars did not pan out as they wanted but their defense did justice as Stan Gross stopped the drive alone.
On first down he stopped the play in the backfield. On second, after a nine yard run, he made the tackle that forced a third and long situation.
On third down he went full speed sacking the quarterback and forcing a punt.
“The defensive line was hungry tonight and they went out and ate,” defensive coordinator Marc Cobb said.
On the Cougars’ next possession they put up the first points of the game. From 17 yards out Kenneth Jefferson found Jonathan Harris on fourth down for the score. They did not get the two point conversion and took a 6-0 lead.
After two punts and a turnover the Cougars got it together and scored on a one play drive with Jefferson connecting with Sylvonta Oliver on a 44-yard touchdown pass. The Cougars went up 12-8 fowwlowing the unsuccessful PAT.
But the Dragons did not stay away long after scoring on a 97-yard kick return cutting the deficit to 12-8.
The Dragons took advantage of a Cougar turnover and went up 14-12 after scoring on a one play 28-yard touchdown pass. The Cougars went into the half down 14-12.
After coming out of the half the Cougars went out and had a short drive after a bad kick. Jefferson scored his third touchdown of the night on a one yard run.
Later in the third quarter Jefferson found Harris once again on a 11-yard touchdown pass that took the lead to 26-14.
On Palmer’s next drive they looked as if they were about to score but coughed up the ball and Oliver took a fumble recovery 97 yards for a touchdown. They again were unsuccessful on two point conversion attempt with the score 32-14.
Late in the game the Dragons scored the final touchdown of the day on a four-yard touchdown run. They did not get the two point conversion but made the final score 32-20.
“I hate they scored at the end against some of the back ups because the score did not tell the game but we played good on that side of the ball,” Cobb said.
Jefferson led the passing game with a 9-19 for 238 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions performance. He also had six carries for 20 yards and a touchdown.
Leading the rushing game was Jamal Leverson with eight carries for 64 yards. Other rushers were Lavonta Towns with seven carries for 38 yards and Ryshonne Bishop with two carries for six yards. Leading the receivers was Oliver with three catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. Other receivers were Harris with two catches for 28 yards and two touchdown, Jamarvis Echols with a catch for 28 yards and Bishop with two catches for 19 yards.
Leading the defense was Demarco Smith with nine tackles, five of them for a loss and three sacks. Other tacklers were Gross with five tackles, two for a loss and two sacks, Malcomn Lyons with five tackles, a for a loss and deflection.
Others on the stat sheets included: Quinterrious Walls had four tackles and a sack, Towns had three tackles, Gerrado Brown had three tackles and a tackle for a loss, Leverson had two tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss, David Burton had a tackle and an interception, Eric Bailey had a tackle, Jaylon Gipson had a tackle and a tackle for a loss, Tyler Shorter had a tackle, a deflection and an interception and Oliver had a tackle, three pass deflections, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.