Bears drop heartbreaker at Co-Lin, 29-26, in overtime

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information

Chuck Barnes

Football | 9/18/2015 6:42:00 AM

The Southwest Bears gave it their all Thursday night in Wesson, but in the end it was not enough as top-ranked Co-Lin eked out a 29-26 overtime win.

After watching the Bears give their best performance of the season thus far, picking up only four penalties while not turning the ball over, and still coming out on the losing end, head coach Tucker Peavey said, "That's football. Co-Lin's obviously a great, talented team. I thought our guys played with great effort, intensity and emotion. We executed better than we have on offense (in previous games) and that's what it'll take and hopefully we can repeat that performance." He said he felt bad for his players because "I think they played their hearts out."

Co-Lin (4-0, 1-0 South) quickly drew first blood in the contest. Taking the opening kickoff, the hosts marched 53 yards on five plays with Lakedric Lee capping the drive on a four-yard scamper into the end zone. Greg Nickles added the PAT to put the Wolves on top 7-0 with 11:53 to play in the quarter.

The Bears picked up their first points with 5:25 left in the quarter when a Michael Ware fumble recovery led to an eight-yard Tyler Shell to Justin Blue scoring pass. A missed extra point left the Bears trailing 7-6 going into the second quarter.

Taking possession of the ball to open the second quarter, the Bears put together an 80-yard, six-play drive and took a 9-7 lead when Reed James booted a 34-yard field goal with 11:23 to play. The drive was highlighted by a 65-yard Shell to Ravian Pierce pass.

The Bears expanded their lead to 16-7 with 6:37 on the second-quarter clock when Shell fired a 67-yard touchdown pass to Mike Macon to close out an 80-yard, five play drive and James booted the extra point.

The Wolves ended the first-half scoring when an 80-yard, five play drive culminated in an 11-yard touchdown run by Lee with 3:01 on the clock. Nickles' added the PAT to leave the Bears on top 16-14 at the intermission.

The score went to 23-14 late in the third quarter when Blue dashed nine yard to paydirt to close out an 11-play, 89-yard drive with 3:55 on the clock. James again notched the extra point.

Nickles closed out the third-quarter scoring, and drew the Wolves back to within 23-17, with a 36-yard field goal with 1:32 left in the quarter.

After a 32-yard Nickles field goal made the score 23-20 with 8:01 left in the game, the Wolves had a chance to win in regulation as they marched down to the Bears' 19-yard line. But, the Bears' defense rose to the occasion, forcing a game-tying 36-yard field goal by Nickles as time ran out and sending the teams into extra play with the score tied 23-23.

In the overtime, the Bears took a 26-23 lead when James booted a 42-yard field goal. But, the Wolves answered back and picked up the win when Lee scampered into the end zone from the seven-yard line.

Despite the loss, Peavey said "I think what we're going to see that we've got guys who can make plays and when we get the opportunities to, we can. The ability's there, we've just got to do it consistently."

Shell led the Bears' offense, completing nine of 15 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Casey Haygood completed two of seven passes for 25 yards.

Pierce caught three passes for 71 yards while Shuntez Smith had three receptions for 31 yards. Macon had a 67-yard scoring reception while Blue was on the receiving end of an eight-yard touchdown pass.

Shell carried the ball 10 times for 57 yards. Blue had 48 yards, and a touchdown, on nine carries while
LaDarion Peterson picked up 31 yards on 12 carries.

The Bears had 12 first downs in the game and were penalized four times for 40 yards. Brandon Mancuso averaged 37.6 yards on five punts.

Garrett Kruzcek completed 17 of 32 passes for 205 yards to pace the Wolves' offense. Lee rushed the ball 25 times for 133 of the Wolves' 219 ground yards. He had three touchdowns.

The Wolves recorded 20 first downs in the game and were penalized nine times for 80 yards. Nickles averaged 35 yards on three punts.

The Bears return to action on September 24 when they travel to Poplarville to face Pearl River. The Wildcats lost at Jones County 34-6 Thursday night.

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Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#4 Shuntez Smith: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#6 Ravian Pierce: 6' 3"; Freshman

#10 Mike Macon: 5' 11"; Freshman

#11 Michael Ware: 5' 10"; Freshman

#12 Tyler Shell: 6' 2"; Sophomore

#22 Justin Blue: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#34 Brandon Mancuso: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#36 Reed James: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#4 Shuntez Smith
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#6 Ravian Pierce
: 6' 3"; Freshman

#10 Mike Macon
: 5' 11"; Freshman

#11 Michael Ware
: 5' 10"; Freshman

#12 Tyler Shell
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

#22 Justin Blue
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#34 Brandon Mancuso
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#36 Reed James
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Bears drop heartbreaker at Co-Lin, 29-26, in overtime

Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson

#4 Shuntez Smith

#6 Ravian Pierce

#10 Mike Macon

#11 Michael Ware

#12 Tyler Shell

#22 Justin Blue

#34 Brandon Mancuso

#36 Reed James

Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson

#4 Shuntez Smith

#6 Ravian Pierce

#10 Mike Macon

#11 Michael Ware

#12 Tyler Shell

#22 Justin Blue

#34 Brandon Mancuso

#36 Reed James