WESSON – Jones County Junior College left its award-winning bandat home Saturday but the Bobcats made plenty of noise in StoneStadium. Flexing their muscles on offense and defense, theyoverpowered the Co-Lin Wolves 45-3 in a South Division contest.

Jones County, ranked No. 3 in the latest NJCAA poll, climbed to4-0 overall and 1-0 in the South. Co-Lin, beset by injuries, fellto 1-3 and 0-2, losing its third straight game.

The defending state champion Bobcats capitalized on turnoversand big plays. Quarterback Aaron Leak passed for 235 yards and 3touchdowns, throwing bombs of 82, 68 and 35 yards. Leak (6-3, 225,so.) from Durham, N.C., was impressive, completing 7 of 21 passesbut throwing 2 interceptions.

“We still don’t have our running game where we want it to be,”said JCJC head coach Parker Dykes. “We must practice harder atrunning the ball.”

The Bobcats only managed 84 yards rushing on 24 carries. GregWash, a sophomore from Greene County, led the way with 16 rushesfor 49 yards.

Jones owned a 17-3 halftime lead. The Bobcats broke the gameopen with a 3-touchdown performance from Leak in the third quarter.He threw TD strikes of 68 and 35 yards to Alonzo Nix and an 82-yardconnection to Kennie Lewis, giving the Bobcats a 38-3advantage.

“Our offensive coaches did a good job adjusting,” said Dykes.”They made the calls and gave him (Leak) time to read and see thereceivers.”

It was the second straight game for the Bobcats to keep theiropponent out of the end zone. “We are proud of our defensive unit,”said Dykes. “Our goal is to shut out the other team.”

With the exception of Jimbo Thornton’s 32-yard field goal, theWolves were kept from scoring a touchdown. Co-Lin was held tonegative rushing yardage, 32 rushes for minus-9 yards.

“Offensively, we need to get better,” said Co-Lin head coachDavid Poinsett. “We must have the ability to drive the ball andkeep our defense off the field.”

Tropical Storm Isidore had dumped several inches or rain on thefield, forcing postponement of the game from Thursday night. TheWolves are down to 46 players on the roster, due to injuries.

“We didn’t lay down and quit,” Poinsett pointed out. “We have 46guys who are giving us 60 minutes of football. We are playing somany freshmen right now. This is trial by fire.”

Co-Lin quarterback Bruce Petty was under heavy pressure from theJones defense. He was replaced by Ty Smith in the third quarterafter being intercepted at the Co-Lin 35.

In the first half, the Bobcats got a 74-yard punt return fromChris Swain for a touchdown and a 27-yard fumble return from CornelBlakley for a TD, plus a 32-yard field goal from NicholasTerracina.

On defense, Howard Overby intercepted 2 passes for Co-Lin.Freshman punter Thomas Garland worked overtime, punting 11 timesfor a 41.8-yard average.

Co-Lin celebrates homecoming Oct. 5, hosting the East CentralWarriors. Kickoff is 2:30 in Stone Stadium.