NP ends streak in Charleston loss

By Ike House
North Panola ends their winning streak at 7-1 against Charleston on Friday with a final of 41-16. The Cougars were beaten on big plays and short drives.
Even though played tough in the first half things crumbled in the second quarter for the Cougars.
“Now that our streak is over the kids don’t have the pressure of being undefeated in their minds,” Head coach Carl Diffee said.
In the first quarter the Cougars had trouble with two back-to-back false starts that pushed the drive back and gave them a first and 20. Three plays later they punted but with a shanked kick the Tigers started their drive on the 21. The Tigers went on a two play drive that resulted in a six yard run for six points and after the two point conversion the Tigers led 8-0.
The Cougars put together another incomplete drive with five incomplete passes. They punted again but the Tigers got back in good field position after a long return.
With their drive starting on the 29, the Cougar defense held up and forced a fourth and three. But the Cougars did not anticipate a fake punt which resulted in a 61 yard touchdown. After a PAT they Tigers led 15-0.
“It was rough early because we were down by 15 before we could blink good,” Diffee said.
The Cougars had some success on their next drive with Jamarvis Echols catching a 27-yard pass and Ryshonne Bishop gaining eight yards on the next play. Things started coming together for the Cougars, but a holding penalty stalled the drive.
After Charleston received the ball, the Cougars got it back after Bishop forced a fumble in the backfield and Demarco Smith recovered.
Both defenses held until 2:41 left in the second half. Charleston had another short field and drove the ball into the end zone on a four-yard run for the 21-0 lead as the two-point conversion failed.
It was not long before the Tigers scored again following a high punt and return. Starting on their 37, Charleston scored quickly on a three-play drive that capped by a nine-yard run for the 27-0 lead as the PAT failed.
Before the half the Cougars avoided the shut out as Kenneth Jefferson found David Burton on a six-yard pass for a touchdown. The two-point conversion cut the lead 27-8.
The Cougars planned on going into the half down by 19 but the Tigers had other plans.
After another short kick yielding Charleston field position in Cougar territory, Charleston was able to score before the half.
On the final play of the half, Charleston scored on a  15-yard touchdown pass but the two-point conversion failed to leave the Cougars down 33-8 at the half.
The touchdown seemed to take the air out of the crowd and the Cougars could not get back on track.
Neither team could move the ball in the third but at the beginning of the fourth Charleston scored on a two-yard run and led 41-8 after the two-point conversion.
The  Cougars did not give up easily as scoring on a drive set up by a Tyler Shorter interception. Jefferson found Burton again on a 36-yard touchdown pass and cut the lead 41-16 after the two-point conversion.
“David (Burton) played a big part on offense for us and we prefer for him to be on defense. He provides another big body out there,” Diffee said.
Jefferson led passing going 10 of 30 for 172 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Leading the rushing attack was Jefferson with seven carries for 46 yards.
Other rushers were T’Marya Russell with three carries for nine yards, Lavonta Towns with a carry for six yards and Bishop with five carries for two yards.
Leading the receivers was Jamarvis Echols with three catches for 109 yards.
Other receivers were Burton with two catches for 42 yards, Jarvis Echols with a catch for 11 yards, Sylvonta Oliver with two catches for nine yards and Jonathan Harris with a catch for two yards.
Leading the defense was Stan Gross with six tackles and two tackles for a loss.
Other tacklers were Smith with four tackles, two tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery;  Malcomn Lyons, two tackles; Bishop, two tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss;  Towns, two tackles, two tackles for a loss; Burton, two tackles, one interception; Shorter, one tackle, one interception; Oliver, Russell, Davarious Leverson and Quinterrious Walls all had one tackle each.
Homecoming
The Cougars have homecoming this week with the Hollywood theme and will be looking to break a 26-year losing streak against Water Valley. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.
“We have homecoming this week against another big opponent that we can not take lightly,” Diffee said.
The Coronation is Wednesday at 6 p.m. Admission is $2. The homecoming parade is Thursday at 6 p.m.