Cougars finish regular season 9-2; meet Benton in rematch

By Ike House
The Cougars finished their season with a 9-2 record, their best regular season finish since 1989, with a 34-28 win over Holly Springs.
In the first quarter both teams started out the gate slowly with the only points a Hawks field goal.
In the second quarter,  the Cougars came through with big points after another Hawks’ field goal. The first touchdown of the night was a Kenneth Jefferson to Montreal Connor 56-yard connection. After the two-point conversion, the Cougars led 8-6.
The Cougars did not stop there as Jefferson found Connor again on a nine-play drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown play. The Cougars led 14-6 after the two-point conversion.
Both teams stalled for most of the quarter. Before the half the Cougars found a way into the end zone on a Jamal Leverson four-yard run. They converted on the two point conversion and led 22-6 at halftime,
After the half the Hawks made adjustments but they did not take effect until the Cougars scored twice more. The Cougars capped a 12-play drive that included plenty of penalties with Jefferson finding Leverson on a six-yard touchdown reception for the 28-6 lead as the two-point attempt failed.
With the Cougars defense swarming around the ball, the Hawks could not move forward and the offense took advantage of the opportunity. Jefferson found Delvin Kimmons on a 67-yard touchdown pass for his first touchdown catch of the year. The Cougars then led 34-6.
The Cougar backups got a chance to see some action but floundered against the Hawks’ starters and gave up 22 unanswered points. With the game on the line the Cougar starters went back in and took the victory for the Cougars by a final of 34-28.
Jefferson led the Cougars going 16 of 29 for 219 yards and four touchdowns. He also had five carries for 51 yards.
Leading the rushing attack for the Cougars was T’Mareya Russell with nine carries for 65 yards. Other rushers were Rhysonne Bishop, three carries for 37 yards, Leverson, five carries for 30 yards and a touchdown, Lavonta Towns, four carries for 21 yards, Ankerion Gross, a carry for 18 yards and Tracy Davis, a carry for five yards.
The receivers were Kimmons with two catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, Connor with two catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns, Towns with three catches for 51 yards, Bishop with a catch for 30 yards, Leverson with two catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, Jamarvis Echols with two catches for 17 yards, Jonathan Harris and David Burton both had a catch for 14 yards, Tracy Davis had a catch for 10 yards and Roydarius Jackson had a catch for nine yards.
The Cougars will be traveling to Benton County Friday to take on the Buccaneers for the first round of the playoffs.