Oliver’s passes power Pearl River past Co-Lin
Published 5:00 am Monday, September 20, 2004
WESSON — For a brief time Co-Lin’s sun-drenched followers werethinking upset Saturday afternoon in Stone Stadium. The Wolfpackhad gone ahead 14-7 over No. 4 nationally-ranked Pearl RiverCommunity College on a 36-yard interception return by CoreyRhodes.
However, the rest of the third quarter and the game belonged tothe unbeaten Wildcats who responded with 28 unanswered pointsbehind the passing wizardry of quarterback Jimmy Oliver in a 35-14triumph. Oliver, a freshman from Columbia (East Marion), passed for206 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for another in the SouthDivision contest.
Pearl River climbed to 3-0 on the season and Co-Lin fell to 1-2.Originally scheduled for Thursday night, the game was postponed dueto Hurricane Ivan.
“That’s playground ball when Jimmy can scramble and make them(tacklers) miss him,” said PRCC head coach Tim Hatten. “That wasJimmy’s first interception this year after about nine touchdownpasses.”
Overall, Hatten was unhappy with his team’s performance. “Wewere very undisciplined and we didn’t show much character. We aresupposed to be a good football team but we didn’t act likeone.”
Hatten watched his defending state champions trash talk theirway to 110 yards in penalties. A finger-pointing melee almost gotugly after the game.
Co-Lin head coach Glenn Davis also was disappointed in histeam’s performance. “Our youth showed. We didn’t keep ourcomposure. It was a hot day and we need to learn that actions speaklouder than words.”
Wolfpack quarterback Beau Billeck was under heavy pressure fromPRCC’s hulking but quick defensive line. He was tackled 8 timesbehind the line of scrimmage for losses totaling 54 yards.
Against PRCC, Billeck connected on 10 of 19 passes for 104yards. A 26-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass to freshman widereceiver Daryl Johnson tied the game at 7-7 on Chris Blackwell’sPAT kick with 12 seconds left in the first half. Johnson made theleaping reception in the back of the end zone between 2defenders.
“We must find a way to get the ball to D.J. (Johnson) more,”said Davis. “He’s our big playmaker.”
Johnson, a freshman from New Orleans, had 3 receptions for 46yards. Co-Lin could only manage 27 yards rushing. Charles McCraeled the way with 9 carries for 31 yards. Julius Roberson rushed 13times for 30 yards.
Billeck and backup quarterback Victor Williams combined for aminus 34 yards rushing.
“Our kids fought and played hard,” said Davis. “We didn’t haveenough bullets to compete with a good football team like PearlRiver. Turnovers were critical. We need zero turnovers when we playa team like Pearl River.”
Oliver (6-1, 180), slippery as a greased eel, scrambled 11 yardsfor PRCC’s first touchdown. Ledean Byrd kicked the extra point fora 7-0 lead and 3:03 left in the first quarter.
A 35-yard field goal attempt by Co-Lin’s Chris Blackwell hadbeen wide left on the previous, 17-play drive with the game-openingkickoff. The Wildcats took over and went 80 yards in 8 plays.
“He’s (Oliver) elusive,” said Davis. “We were reaching andgrabbing instead of hitting through him.”
Davis sat in his sweltering Frank Pitts Field House office dueto a breakdown in the air-conditioning system last week. Theair-conditioning system in the press box broke down in the thirdquarter but the Wildcats were just heating up after falling behind14-7.
Oliver threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to preseason All-AmericanLarry Brackins who made an over-the-shoulder catch in the end zoneto tie the game at 14-14. Oliver hooked up with Levance Richmond ona middle screen which was good for 14 yards and a TD, making it21-14.
The longest bomb came on the next possession as Oliver threw aTD strike to James Hollingsworth who sprinted 75 yards down thesideline. It was 28-14 with 2:39 left in the third quarter.