The road Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) matchup between no. 9 Copiah-Lincoln and Holmes on Thursday in Goodman played out as a rainy, slog of a game.

The Bulldogs used a safety, a defensive touchdown, and one offensive score to hold off the Wolves 15-13 in a game that lacked rhythm.

Neither defense gave up much in forms of explosive plays as the Wolves averaged 2.9 yards per play and Holmes netted 2.4 yards per snap.

It looked like things would be easy for Co-Lin in the early going as they moved the ball well on offense on their first two possessions and forced quick punts by a Holmes offense that was among the best in the nation last season at throwing the ball.

Holmes started Sumrall High product John Ford, their returning starter from last season, at quarterback. The Bulldogs later rotated in freshman Chase Richardson at the position. Richardson was the MHSAA 3A Player of the Year last season in leading Winona High to a state title.

After Ford took an awkward hit while trying to slide in the first half, it was Richardson’s offense to run for the rest of the night.

With 4:08 remaining in the first quarter, Richardson was sacked by CLCC linebacker Lakendrick “Champ” James. The Holmes signal caller dropped what was surely a slippery ball and it was picked up by linebacker Malachi Williams. Williams, a Brookhaven High alum, then walked into the end zone from the 17-yard line for the first score of the game to put Co-Lin ahead 7-0.

The teams traded punts and stalled drives through much of the second quarter before a special teams mistake by the Wolves put Holmes on the board. A snap on a punt attempt went over the head of Co-Lin’s Humberto Rosales and out of the end zone for a safety.

After the free-kick, Holmes drove down and scored its lone touchdown of the game when Richardson found receiver B.J. Johnson for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The conversion kick was no good after a mishandled snap and Holmes led 8-7 at halftime.

Credit should go to the Holmes defense, who gave up 342 yards of total offense in the season opener, a 48-31-win, last week at Southwest Mississippi CC, for their efforts on Thursday.

When the Bulldogs knew that the Wolves were keeping the ball on the ground, they crowded the tackle box and ate up any space for the Co-Lin ball carriers.

The Holmes CC defense helped pad the lead with six minutes remaining in the third quarter when Dandreyus Giles returned a Will Loy interception 30-yards for a score to put the Bulldogs ahead 15-7. It was the second straight game for Giles to return an interception for a score.

Head coach Glenn Davis and his staff rotated out offensive linemen, running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks in the second half to try and find an offensive spark for Co-Lin.

The Wolves finally got an offensive touchdown early in the fourth quarter when sophomore running back Dezmond Ray scored on a 5-yard touchdown run. The conversion attempt was no good and Holmes was able to hold off Co-Lin over the final 11 minutes to preserve the 15-13 victory.

Loy, the starting quarterback for CLCC, went 8-of-15 passing for 39 yards. Will Prichard (West Palm Beach, Fl.) came on in the second half at quarterback and finished with 106 yards passing after going 11-of-22. Tray Minor (Natchez High) led the rushing attack with 48 yards on seven carries. Ray rushed nine times for 12 yards. CLCC also lost two fumbles in the game.

The CLCC defense gave up just 13 combined rushing yards to the Bulldogs. Doug Nelson (Hazlehurst High) led the way with seven total tackles.

Bogue Chitto product Andrew Merrell was a busy man punting the ball for Holmes on Thursday. A freshman, Merrell booted the ball seven times for a 34-yard average. His long punt went for 51 yards and he had two kicks downed inside the 20-yard line.

In other MACCC action played around the state on Thursday, Northeast Mississippi (1-1) beat Southwest Mississippi (0-2) 49-30 in Booneville, East Mississippi (1-1) routed Hinds (0-2) 43-3 in Raymond, Northwest Mississippi (1-1) held off East Central (1-1) 22-17 in Decatur, Mississippi Gulf Coast (2-0) mowed down Mississippi Delta (0-2) 43-7 in Moorhead, Jones College (2-0) eased past Coahoma CC (0-2) 31-16 in Ellisville, and Itawamba (2-0) outlasted Pearl River (1-1) 10-0 in Fulton.

Co-Lin makes its home debut on Thursday in the MACCC South Division opener for both the Wolves and Eagles. Kickoff in H.L. “Hook” Stone Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.