NP ruled spring games
Published 10:40 am Tuesday, May 22, 2018
- North Panola’s Tyler Shorter carries the ball and cut left to dodge a defender in the spring game Friday. The Cougars had a good showing and won both games. The Panolian photo by Ike House
NP ruled spring games
North Panola’s Tyler Shorter carries the ball and cut left to dodge a defender in the spring game Friday. The Cougars had a good showing and won both games.
The Panolian photo by Ike House
By Ike House
North Panola started its 2018 football season on Friday night shortly after their quarterback Kenneth Jefferson committed to Arkansas. The Cougars traveled to Ripley to take on Shannon and Ripley. The Cougars won both games and had some big plays in both games.
NP 14, Shannon 8
In the first game the Cougars took on the Red Raiders. On the first play from scimmage, the Cougars scored on an 80-yard touchdown from Jefferson to senior receiver Eric Bailey. They got the two-point conversion for a 8-0 lead. It did not take the Cougars long to get the ball back as Jimmie Shorter got an one-handed intercpetion.
Then they turned around and put the ball back in the endzone with long play from Jefferson as he found Tyler Shorter on screen pass as they turned it into a 65-yard reception. After the two-point attempt failed, they led 14-0.
In the final two minutes of the game Steven Edwards caught an interception. The Cougars could not complete a pass but the Red Raiders got the ball back and scored at the end of the game. They got their two points and put the score 14-8.
NP 20 Ripley 0
In the second game it was the Jefferson show as he went out and put the offense on his back. On their first drive, Jefferson scored on a 34 yards touchdown run. They did not get the two but they led 6-0. After the defense got them the ball back they, Jefferson put the ball in the endzone once again, this time on a 33 yard run. After a hard fought two point conversion the Cougars led 14-0.
Ripley got the ball back and went on a drive but did not fair well as they fumbled the handoff which was recovered by Ethan Leverson. Then Bailey got his second touchdown of the day with a 14-yard pass from Jefferson. The Cougars finished the game with a 20-0 win.
Jefferson played well in both games combining for 9-17 for 242 yards and three touchdowns. He also had seven carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, Clarence Taylor had six carries for 47 yards and Latravious Jenkins had a carry for nine yards.
On the receiving end Bailey had three catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Other receivers were Shorter, two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown; Mario Fenner one catch for 36 yards; Taylor one catch for 17 yards and Jenkins two catches for 12 yards.
The Cougars will start their season on August 18 at Coahoma.
