With 4-0 start, North Panola earns No. 1 ranking in 3A

By Ike House
North Panola is now the number one ranked team in 3A and also they are 4-0. They took on 4A opponent Gentry this past Friday and turned out victorious in a game that was full of turnovers. The Cougars found a way to come out with a 44-14 win.
The game began with the Cougar’s defense and special teams being dominant. The defense forced a three and out but a roughing the punter helped Gentry get the first down. That series led to another three and out that led to a Sylvonta Oliver 70 yard return for a touchdown that was called back in a block in the back.
Oliver got in the endzone two drives later with a six yard run. With the two point conversion no good the Cougars led 6-0. Gentry did not stay behind long scoring on a bizarre forth down call from the one yard line and after the conversion they led 8-6.
Two drives later Clarence Taylor scored from six yards out and the conversion gave them a 14-8 lead. Then last year’s leading interception man for North Panola, Tyler Shorter, added to his total with an interception right before the half.
In the second half Gentry scored first on a 24-yard pass on a third-and-14 attempt. After the failed conversion the score was tied at 14.
Sylvonta Oliver soon scored on an 80-yard kick return. The score stood at 20-14 Cougars as the two-point attempt failed.
Norman Edwards got the first blocked punt of the season and that turnover led to a Kenneth Jefferson to Shorter six yard touchdown pass. With the converted conversion the Cougars led 28-14.
Shorter did not take long to get his hands on the ball again with a 64 yard interception return for a touchdown that gave the Cougars a 34-14 lead.
Three drives later the Cougar defense showed up once again with an Alex Gross and Chris Clark safety. With the 36-14 lead the Cougars got the ball after the free kick and turned it into points. Jefferson hooked up with Jarvis Echols on a 16 yard touchdown pass. The conversion led to the final of 44-14.
Jefferson had a big night going 11-18 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He also had seven carries for 77 yards.
Leading the ground attack was Taylor with 14 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown. Other rushers were Carl Robinson with five carries for 47 yards; Oliver with three carries for 21 yards and a touchdown and Antwon Oliver with five carries for 10 yards.
Leading the receiving corps was Shorter with four catches for a 100 yards a touchdown. Other receivers were Jamarvis Echols with four catches for 74 yards and Jarvis Echols with three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Leading on the defensive side of the ball was Quadarious Jones with six tackles.
Other tacklers include Chris Clark with five tackles, a tackle for a loss, a safety and a sack; Malcolm Lyons, five tackles; Oliver, three tackles, two deflections, a tackle for a loss; Gross, three tackles, a tackle for a loss, a safety; Kylan Osborn, three tackles, a deflection; Demarco Smith, a tackle, a tackle for a loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery; Tracy Davis, a tackle, three deflections; Jarvis Echols, a tackle, a tackle for a loss; Quinterrious Walls, one tackle, a tackle for loss; Shorter, two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown; Jaylen Gipson, a fumble recovery; Norman Edwards, blocked punt; and Katterikous Walls, Eric Bailey, Jamarvis Echols, Spencer Higganbothan, Roderick Taylor and Carl Robinson, one tackle each.