SPORTS

H.S. FOOTBALL: JCM holds off South Side rally

John Armstrong

It was almost a comeback for the ages.

The South Side Hawks fought back from a 35-0 deficit with 2:30 left in the first half to get within a touchdown on two occasions, but two late Jackson Central-Merry scoress helped stave off the rally in a 61-42 Cougar win.

Calvern Lynwood’s second interception returned for a touchdown essentially sealed the win for the Cougars (3-6) and snapped their five-game losing streak.

JCM head coach Orentheus Taylor had high praise for his defensive back, who had returns of 73 and 52 yards for touchdowns as well as a third pick that he returned 31 yards.

“He wasn’t even starting at the beginning of the season,” Taylor said, “but he worked his way into a starting spot. He has a lot of upside.”

His day helped spoil a furious comeback by the Hawks and Cade Willingham, who threw for 427 yards and five touchdowns.

After the Cougars went ahead 35-0 on late in the second quarter, South Side found the end zone before halftime and then scored on the opening drive of the second half. In a span of less than five minutes of game time, a blowout had turned into a ball game.

“They got a little momentum,” said Taylor, “and we see what that turned into.”

But when they had to make plays, the Cougars did.

“They were loading the box so Terrance [Kinnie, Jr.] checked out of a couple of plays and had success out of it,” Taylor said.

One of those checkdowns was a quick pass from Kinnie to Coleton Word that resulted in a 24-yard touchdown and a bit of a cushion after the Hawks had pulled within six points. Word outran the South Side defense 24 yards down the right sideline and gave JCM a 54-42 lead with 2:17 to play.

It was a good answer to South Side’s previous touchdown, which saw a Willingham pass deflect off a defender’s hands to Hayden Phillips behind the secondary, and he turned it into a 46-yard touchdown.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, it was their last touchdown as the comeback came up just short. The Cougars ate up four minutes on their ensuing drive, meaning South Side would have to throw deep in order to get a chance at another possession.

And when Willingham did, Lynwood was there for a third time as his final interception sealed the win.