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

Published 2:08 pm Tuesday, September 12, 2017

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

North Panola’s Demarco Smith, No. 13, takes his job of disrupting the quarterback or person with the ball very seriously as he helps the Gentry player stay down Friday night.
The Panolian photo by Ike House

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.

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