WESSON — Despite buckling down on defense and holding Co-Lin scoreless in the second half, the Bears' comeback effort fell just short Thursday evening as the Wolves escaped with a 29-21 win at H.L. Stone Stadium. The Bears made things interesting at the end as with under a minute to go, they threatened at the Wolves' 7-yard line but an interception dashed the hopes of the visitors who sought to even their conference record at 1-1.
After the game, head coach Cliff Collins was pleased with how his team performed, despite coming up short.
"Our kids fought hard and they played hard," he said. "This is the third loss that I have taken (in the series) and it doesn't feel like a loss because we were the better football team. It is what it is and we are going to keep fighting."
Southwest finished with 248 yards of offense to Co-Lin's 264. In just his second start of the season, Amarien Jefferson threw for 165 yards, while on the ground he had 57 yards and a score on 16 carries. Running back Tyler Reed got the start finishing with 11 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown.
The Bears (1-3, 0-2) struck first on their first drive, taking advantage of great field position before Reed punched it in from a yard out. Reigning MACCC Special Teams Player of the Week Lyndell Boatman added the PAT making it a 7-0 lead for Southwest.
The Wolves answered right back with a rushing touchdown of their own, from 18 yards out, tying the game at 7 with 5:40 to go in the opening quarter.
Following a short possession for the Bears, the Wolves got the ball back before taking their first lead of the contest at the 3:38 mark with a touchdown pass.
Trailing 14-7, the Bears kept putting up a fight, however, they could not find the right formula to keep their offense moving.
Co-Lin got the ball back and put Southwest in a 14-point hole following a short touchdown run at the 11:24 mark of the second quarter.
The Bears unfortunately watched their deficit grow once again four minutes later as the Wolves kept rolling with a 31-yard touchdown pass.
Southwest showed great resilience, halting the following Co-Lin drive, forcing a punt. Sophomore Wil'Tayvious Herbert broke through the line and blocked the kick deep in Wolf territory before Reed scooped up the loose ball and rumbled into the end zone from 17-yards. Boatman's PAT pulled the Bears within 15 at 29-14 with 4:41 to go in the first half.
On the opening drive of the second half, a renewed Bears team pulled closer as Jefferson led Southwest down the field on a 10-play, 98-yard drive that took up 4:59. It wrapped with Jefferson finding the end zone from 5 yards out on a run. Boatman added the PAT making it an eight-point deficit for the Bears at 29-21.
From there, the Bear defense and special teams stepped up as several Wolf drives were halted. On one in the early stages of the fourth quarter, a 26-yard field goal attempt by Co-Lin was blocked, keeping it a one-score game.
Taking over with 7:15 to go, the Bears looked to pull even. Jefferson led an 18-play drive that took the next 6:30 off of the clock. Unfortunately, a fourth-down pass with :44 to go was intercepted sealing the win for Co-Lin.
Defensively, the Bears were led by Dante Thomas who had 8 tackles. Danarius Hilliard had 7 including 1 for loss. Javier Simmons had arguably his best game as a Bear with six tackles, 1 for loss and 2 interceptions.
Southwest returns home next Thursday as they welcome in the East Central Warriors at John I. Hurst Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
