NP tramples Water Valley, 32-7

By Ike House
North Panola keeps on making school history as they are the second Cougar team that has won eight games inside of the playoff system. Not only are the Cougars 8-1 they also broke a 27-year losing streak against Water Valley who they have not betten since 1990.
Now the losing streak is over and the Cougars continue to roll after defeating the Blue Devils 32-7.
“It feels great. The North Panola Football players, students, parents, alumni and supporters have waited far too long to beat the Blue Devils and it was great to see the kids excitement after the game Friday,” head coach Carl Diffee said, “Especially after they ran up the hill to 4,000 people that came to watch.”
In the first half the Cougars began slow after the Blue Devils got on the board first, scoring on a 76-yard punt return. After kicking the PAT they led by 7-0.
After a 50-yard kick return by Tracy Davis, the Cougars got the spark they needed in a wet and muddy game. Two plays later Kenneth Jefferson found Jamarvis Echols on a 20-yard pass for a touchdown, followed by a two point conversion for the 8-7 lead.
After that score both teams stalled until right before the half, when the Cougars put the ball in end zone again. On a six-play drive, the Cougars’ Sylvonta Oliver scored on a four-yard run. The scored stood at 14-7 at the half after the two-point attempt failed.
“Water Valley had a good scheme against us defensively and they came out inspired, prepared and we didn’t. The weather also played a factor,” Diffee said. “It took us until the second quarter to finally settle in and play ball.”
After the half the Cougars drove from their 25 to the Water Valley one. On fourth and goal, Jefferson scored on a one yard run, but the two point attempt failed and the score stood 20-7 Cougars.
On the kickoff ,the Cougars squibbed kicked and Spencer Higganbotham recovered the ball. It only took two plays for the Cougars to find the end zone again.
Jefferson found Ryshonne Bishop on a 44-yard pass for the 26-7 lead as the conversion failed.
In the fourth quarter, the Cougars scored one last time on a 12-yard run by Jamal Leverson to increase the lead to 32-7 as the two point attempt failed.
Jefferson led the passing game going 6-13 for 96 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also had four carries for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Leading the rushing attack was Bishop with 10 carries for 74 yards. Other rushers were Jamal Leverson with four carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, T’Myara Russell with five carries for 22 yards, Lavonta Towns with seven carries for 21 yards and Oliver with three carries for 14 yards and a tocuhdown.
Leading the receiving corps was Bishop with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Other receivers were Echols with a catch for 20 yards and a touchdown and Leverson with a catch for eight yards.
Leading the defense was Stan Gross with six tackles, three tackles for a loss and a sack.
Other tacklers include Quinterrious Walls, four tackles, one a tackle for a loss; Demarco Smith, four tackles, three tackles for a loss, one fumble recovery; Tyler Shorter, three tackles, two tackles for a loss, one interception; Jaylen Gipson, three tackles, two tackles for a loss; Brandon Wilbourn, three tackles; Malcomn Lyons, three tackles, one tackle for a loss; Oliver and Gerrado Brown, two tackles each; Norman Edwards, one tackle, a tackle for a loss, one sack; Jonathan Harris, one tackle, one tackle for a loss; Towns and Corradarious Jones one tackleeach.
“If our four whip their five or six or seven, we will win each week. Those guys have bought into our system and continue to bring their lunch box to work each week,” Diffee said. “I’m very proud of their consistency and effort.”
North Panola will host Independence in its final home game of the regular season Friday at 7 p.m.