Inside Sports brought to you by Toyota of Brookhaven checks in with Co-Lin football after a strong 2-0 start to the 2023 season. Watch the video above and read our game story here. 

It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win and be proud of being 2-0 on the season. However, you’ve got to play much better next week if you want to win your first division game on the road at Jones College.

That’s the CliffsNotes version of the talk Copiah-Lincoln head coach Glenn Davis had with his team on the field of H.L. “Hook” Stone Stadium Thursday night after the final horn of a 34-7 win over Mississippi Delta Community College.

Delta lost 51-6 last week at home against Southwest Mississippi and there was a clear talent gap on Thursday between the Trojans and the homestanding Wolves, but Co-Lin had some sloppy play in the middle portion of the game that kept the score close as the Trojans from Moorhead didn’t surrender.

Co-Lin got on the board when running back Johnnie Daniels (Crystal Springs) scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to cap the first drive of the game for the Wolf Pack. Daniels was strong running the ball for a for a second straight week as he picked up 93 yards on 15 carries.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mississippi Delta apparently forgot that a kickoff is a live ball. The Trojans didn’t field the kick and Co-Lin recovered the ball at the Delta 9-yard line.

On the next play, quarterback DeVon Tott (Mandeville, La.) hit Dakota Thomas (Snellville, Ga.) for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Only seven seconds ticked off the big scoreboard inside Stone Stadium between the scoring plays for CLCC as it looked like a rout was on. 

That 14-0 lead held after the first quarter as the Trojans managed just four yards of total offense in the opening 15 minutes of action. Co-Lin had their third possession of the first quarter end when Tott fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by the Trojans on their own 22-yard line.

The highlight of the game for the Trojans came early in the second quarter when Delta freshman quarterback Troy Griffin hit sophomore receiver Sirr Trotter for a 94-yard touchdown pass that made the score 14-7. Griffin is from Indianola and Trotter hails from Cleveland.

MDCC is under the direction of first year head coach Tavares Johnson Sr., a longtime fixture as a high school coach throughout the Delta.

Last season, Simmons led Hollandale-Simmons to the MHSAA 1A championship game. He won two titles at Simmons from 2015-2016 as the Blue Devils went a combined 25-0 during that time. 

In many instances through the years, Johnson Sr. has sent his high school players on to suit up for Co-Lin after graduation and he spoke to his friendship with Davis ahead of the game in a release from the school after the season opener.

“Anytime you face a team that Glenn Davis coaches, it’s going to be a tough game. I admire Glenn and he’s my all-time favorite JUCO coach. He does a great job with those kids. When you can stay at one place for as long as he has it says something about his work ethic and character,” said Johnson of Davis.

The victory was career win no. 101 for Davis as he was honored at halftime to commemorate win no. 100 last week over East Mississippi. Head men’s basketball coach David Sanders and his 2023 MACCC state championship winning squad were also honored at halftime as they were presented with their championship rings.

Co-Lin got two Brandon Gilliam (Warren Central) field goals in the second quarter to stretch the lead out to 20-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Tott and Thomas hooked up for a 37-yard touchdown pass that made the score 27-7.

On the first possession of the fourth quarter, Tott and the Co-Lin offense hit the home run they’d been looking for when he connected with wide receiver Carlos Martin (Laurel High) for a 79-yard touchdown pass. 

Tott finished 13-of-21 for 226 yards while throwing three touchdowns and one interception.

Freshman quarterback Will Loy (Wesson) got his first career action in the fourth quarter and two of his three completions went to freshman receiver Trevor Fortenberry (Brookhaven Academy). His brother, sophomore tight end Tyler Fortenberry (Brookhaven Academy) also got his first reception of the season in the game for a 9-yard gain.

On the night, Co-Lin had three turnovers and the Wolves were flagged for seven penalties as opposed to five penalties for the Trojans. 

The CLCC offense generated 473 total yards versus 200 yards of offense for Mississippi Delta. 

Wesson alum Collin McGowan led the Co-Lin defense from his linebacker position with six total tackles including 1.5 tackles for a loss. Sophomore defensive back Kaden Dukes (Petal High) had three of his five tackles for a loss. Defensive back Navarion Benson (Crystal Springs) broke up two passes.

In other week two MACCC action from around the state, Holmes (2-0) beat East Central (1-1) 24-17 in Goodman, Southwest Mississippi (1-1) went on the road and lost 37-32 at Coahoma (1-1), Northeast Mississippi (2-0) stayed unbeaten with a 19-3 win at Pearl River (0-2), East Mississippi (1-1) bounced back at home to beat Jones College (1-1) 47-23, Mississippi Gulf Coast (2-0) won big again with a 50-0 victory over Itawamba (0-2) and Northwest Mississippi (1-1) beat Hinds (0-2) 19-3.

Division play begins next week on the road for the Wolves when they face Jones College on Thursday in Ellisville for a 7 p.m. kickoff.