The Wesson Cobras (2-0) displayed a roster full of quickness and strength on Friday in going up 44-0 at half in an eventual 44-12 victory over Loyd Star (0-2).

The game played at Copiah-Lincoln CC was part of the annual KDMC Kickoff Classic, an event sponsored by our leading, local health care provider. A trophy is given to the winning team in the yearly event.

It always feels like a big game, as the schools are perennial early season opponents. You know it’s an important night when Wesson is selling Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the concession stand, as they were on Friday.

With both bands also in attendance and a healthy crowd on the home side of Stone Stadium, Wesson sprinted out of the blocks to start the game.

The Cobras put together a 7-play drive when they first touched the ball that ended with senior quarterback Cole Gibson running a read-option where he tucked the ball and walked in for a 3-yard touchdown. The Cobras then went for a 2-point conversion and got it when senior fullback Cotton Westbrook crashed into the endzone.

The drive featured a big pickup on the ground by Wesson running back Kievon Brown. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior, Brown has a slashing running style as he keeps his shoulders low and moves with a fluid gate.

Also on the opening drive, a big chunk of yardage was picked up when Gibson found senior wide receiver Deshawn Smith. The reigning Daily Leader Offensive Player of the Week, Smith caught four passes last week in a win over Bogue Chitto and three of them went for touchdowns.

Wesson kicker Wesley Loy, son of head coach Jeremy Loy, booted an onside bouncer that was corralled by his teammate Kemari Brown. Kemari Brown is also a rangy, long-limbed member of both the Wesson secondary and receiving corps that looks like a gamer when he steps off the bus.

The Wesson offense quickly marched right back down the field and scored again on a Kievon Brown 3-yard touchdown run.

The Loyd Star defense recovered another onside attempt near midfield and with nothing to lose by not punting, head coach Adam Smith went for it on fourth down, but a stout Wesson defense forced a turnover on downs.

The next score for the Cobra’s came as quickly as a viper’s strike, as Gibson and Smith hooked up on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Smith hit a nasty juke move that broke down a defender coming towards him and paved the way for the final 20 yards of his race to the endzone.

The Loyd Star offense found nothing but rough sledding in the first half, as they didn’t pick up a first down until just a minute remained in the second quarter.

Loyd Star head coach Adam Smith knows that his team likely won’t face another so good the rest of this season.

“That’s a group of guys on defense with a lot of speed and some real size up front,” said Smith. “We played scared and timid in the first half and they were getting after us. I’m proud of how my guys kept fighting though and we looked better in the second half. Still not pleased with the results, but we’re a young team playing without a couple guys that are pretty important for us too.”

Loyd Star running back Jordyn Kees, a 2,000-yard rusher last season, missed the game with a mixture of illness and injury. Junior Cooper Creel, an important piece on both sides of the ball, was also out with injury for the Hornets.

Part of what made life so rough for the LS offense was the defensive line play of Wesson senior Korbin Ashmore. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Ashmore is a load for any opposing offense to stop. Ashmore, who requires constant attention up front, recently committed to next play at Louisiana-Monroe.

What also helps is Ashmore lining up beside fellow senior Austin Johnson, another Cobra that can quickly get off the ball up front on the line for defensive coordinator Hank Jordan.

While Loyd Star struggled early to move the ball, the Wesson offense further opened up the lead with some explosive plays.

Gibson hit sophomore wide receiver Damarion Smith for a 10-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter to put Wesson ahead 30-0 following a PAT kick by Blayten Windom.

One of several speedy underclassmen on the roster, Smith is the younger brother of Wesson alum Antrelle Sims, a standout receiver during his prep career who’s now on the roster at Alcorn State.

Later in the second quarter, Wesson got its final two scores of the game. One came when Smith took a jet-sweep for a 48-yard score down the home sideline. The next was a beautiful catch from Kemari Brown where the ball was laid out perfectly by Gibson and then Brown shucked two defenders to get to the pylon.

“Being able to pass it definitely makes calling the game a lot more fun because you’re keeping the defense honest,” said Loy. “Cole wasn’t pleased with himself last week, he knew he made some mistakes in managing things and I’m proud of the way he came in this week in practice and focused and got better. Offensive line played well tonight too and the defense loves it when we play a team that runs the ball. They love to get in a phone booth-fight at the line of scrimmage.”

Loyd Star gained more confidence as the second half progressed and with Wesson still keeping most of its big guns on defense to try and preserve the shutout, the Hornets finally found pay-dirt on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Philip Ross Spencer dropped back and threw a beauty of a ball to junior wide receiver Tristan Fortenberry in the north end zone from 20-yards out.

The pair hooked up again later in the quarter for a 22-yard score.

Spencer can stand tall in the pocket as a sophomore and you can imagine him one day having the presence that Gibson displayed for Wesson on Friday. A backup when he was in 10th grade, Gibson has improved almost weekly as he begins his second season under center.

Another wrinkle in the Wesson arsenal is senior Wyatt Garrett, a guy that can play quarterback or tight end or running back or safety or linebacker or defensive end. He could too, if needed.

A Southwest Mississippi baseball commit, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Garrett played one series at quarterback and picked up over 20-yards on a carry after having another called back by a penalty.

Wesson also has senior running back CJ Jackson going north and south behind a big, veteran offensive line that’s led by Trevor McRee and Buck Thompson. And after all the ink that’s been spilled here about the Cobras, it can’t end without mentioning Westbrook, Hunter Meredith and a pack of hound dogs at linebacker.

In conclusion, there’s no shame in losing big to Wesson in 2024, as they’d be the smart pick to have another big year like the 8-2 finish of last season.

Wesson will be on the road next week at Perry Central, while Loyd Star hosts Salem for homecoming.