Cougars go to 5-0 after big win over O’Bannon

By Ike House

North Panola is off to its best start in school history and kept things going against O’Bannon, a team that beat them by two points last season on the last play of the game. This year they got revenge on the road with a final of 36-22.

“This was not a revenge game but it feels good to come to the Delta and get a win,” Head coach Carl Diffee said.

The first possesion for the Cougars was big as they went on a long drive of 13 plays and scored from two yards out with Jamal Leverson carrying the ball.

After a successful two point conversion the Cougars attempted an onside kick and with Malcolm Lyons recovering giving the ball to the Cougars back on the 33.

This time they did not take long to score as Kenneth Jefferson threw the ball to Jarvis Echols on a 25 yard touchdown. The Cougars would fail to get the two point conversion but led 14-0.

O’Bannon would finally get the ball on offense and did not stall out as they scored on a 36 yard run that led to a failed two pointer but they cut the lead to 14-6.

The Cougars had their first stall out drive but the defense went back out and got the ball back as David Burton forced and recovered a fumble.

But the Cougars could not move the ball and turned the ball over on the 22. Three plays later Tyler Shorter came up with a big interception that gave the ball back to the Cougars on the 36.

The Cougars knew what to do the ball this time as Jefferson threw his second touchdown of the night, this time to the other twin Jamarvis Echols on an 11 yard pass. They got the two points and led 22-6.

Neither team would move the ball efficiently before the half and went to the locker room with the same 22-6 score.

O’Bannon got the ball first after the half and scored on a six play drive that was ended with a 31 yard run and with the two point conversion they brought the score to 22-14.

After some short drives from both teams, the ball was punted down to the O’Bannon one by David Burton and the Cougars took advantage.

Three plays into the drive into the possesion Lyons caused a fumble that led to a safety which took the lead to 24-14.

Then the Cougars turned around and scored on a three yard run from Lavonta Towns and after a failed two point conversion the Cougars led 30-14.

But O’Bannon did not go down without a fight. They eventually got the ball going and scored from 20 yards out and cut the lead to 30-22.

After getting ball back the Cougars offense could not move the ball but the defense settled the game with a Lyons interception return for a touchdown. That sealed the game with a final of 36-22.

“We came out and excuted,” Diffee said “I am still waiting on us to play our best football.”

Jefferson led the passing game going 3-7 for 46 yards and two touchdowns. He also had eight carries for 89 yards. 

Leading the rushing attack was Leverson with 14 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Other rushers were Towns with nine carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, T’Marya Russell with two carries for nine yards.

Receivers were Jarvis Echols with a catch for 25 yards, Jamarvis Echols with a catch for 11 yards and Towns with a catch for 10  yards.

Leading the defense was Demarco Smith with six tackles, three tackles for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

Other tacklers were Lyons with four tackles, a safety, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception return for a touchdown and a safety, Stan Gross with three tackles, Burton with three tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, J.J. Toliver with two tackles and a tackle for a loss, Sylvonta Oliver and Towns with two tackles, Tyler Shorter with a tackle, an interception and a pass break up, Spencer Higganbotham with a tackle and tackle for a loss and Brandon Wilbourn and Jonathan Harris a tackle a piece.