Houston County’s new season got off to a rough start. Thanks to Jones County’s Drake Bolus at running back and Teldrick Ross at quarterback it didn’t take long to do so. Bolus took the opening kickoff and ran it 95 yards for one score. A fairly short possession and a punt by the Bears later found Ross breaking free for a 68-yard run and another score.
Ross, who finished with 161 yards on 10 carries, scored again on a 40-yard run near the half.
Ross and Bolus hooked up together late in the third, when the first found the second with a slip screen pass. He ran it 80 yards for the score. That really signaled any and every thought of a comeback – if indeed that spark still existed.
Their efforts helped lead to a 42-3 win for the Greyhounds over Houston County Thursday in the 26th Annual Corky Kell Classic played at Mercer University.
The two early touchdowns coupled with Josh Skinner’s points after made it 14-0. Jon David Ferraris’ 33-yard field goal cut it by three. That actually capped a nice 11-play drive in which the Bears picked up several first downs and gave the fans some good looks at Wesley Steiner and Donavon Mabry, two sophomores who each had good nights. The field goal came with 2:56 left in the first.
Jones County answered it right back when it ran off 11 plays – even picking up a fourth-and-two along the way – before Antonio Evans ran it in from the 2. That was with about three minutes gone in the second.
Both punted before the Bears picked up a couple of first downs and then fumbled the ball over to the Greyhounds. That resulted in Ross’ second score – it coming on the third play from scrimmage. That gave the Greyhounds a 28-3 lead.
Houston County put together an eight-play drive following, but it ended with a missed field goal with three seconds on the clock.
It put together a nice drive to start the third as well – 15 plays, including picking up two fourth downs – but it ended with a blocked field goal.
That’s when Bolus scored again to make it 35-3 with the point after.
Jones County, even with reserves in, scored again with about five minutes left to play on a pass play. It came from 13 yards out when backup quarterback Hunter Costlow found Cameron Rockmore in the endzone. It capped a 13-play drive that went 75 yards and ate up more than eight minutes on the clock.
MCDONALD’S OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME WESLEY STEINER PAPA JOHN’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME CALEB THOMAS
