Fort Scott, Kan. - The #7 NJCAA ranked Coffeyville Community College Red Raven Football Team came alive in the second half, defeating the Fort Scott Greyhounds 31-3. With the victory, Coffeyville's 2021 record moves to a perfect 5-0. The Ravens are 5-0 to start the season for the first time since starting the 2015 season 7-0.
The first half of this one saw both teams struggle to find any traction on offense with Coffeyville opening the scoring with a 36-yard field goal by freshman Forrest Taylor at the 3:54 mark of the first quarter. Immediately after, the Greyhounds put together a four-and-a-half-minute drive capped off by a 32-yard field goal of their own early in the second quarter to tie the score up at 3-3. The first half ended with Fort Scott attempting a long 48-yard field goal which was ultimately blocked by Coffeyville's freshman defensive lineman Darius Lynaum to keep the score tied at 3-3 at the halftime break.
Starting the third quarter the Red Raven offense came alive. After the Raven defense held the Greyhounds on a fourth down early in the third quarter, Coffeyville took over and handed the ball off to freshman running back Star Thomas who gained chunks of 22, 1, and 14 yards on three straight plays to finally get the Ravens in the end zone. Thomas's 14-yard touchdown run came at the 11:08 mark of the third quarter. The extra point was good by Coffeyville's Forrest Taylor and the Ravens had a 10-3 lead.
The Raven defense held strong in the third quarter turning back a couple of fourth-down tries by the Greyhounds and the quarter ended with Coffeyville maintaining a slim 10-3 advantage.
The first play of the fourth quarter saw the Red Ravens find paydirt again with a 19-yard Jakson Thomson touchdown pass to Raven sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Taylor. The Forrest Taylor extra point was good and the Ravens had a breath easier 17-3 lead starting early in the fourth quarter.
Stout defense from Coffeyville got the ball back for the Red Ravens and the offense took one play, a 86 yard touchdown pass from Coffeyville sophomore quarterback Thomson to sophomore wide receiver Cortarious Wilson, to extend the Raven lead to 24-3 at the 10:44 mark of the fourth quarter.
Coffeyville's Thomson was not done, on the next possession, the Coffeyville QB put the cherry on top with a 56-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Chris Bellamy. Forrest Taylor kicked the extra point to give the Ravens their last point in a 31-3 defeat of the Fort Scott Greyhounds.
Coffeyville's Thomson ended the game going 7-13 for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Offensively, the Ravens put up 427 yards of total offense while the Raven defense only allowed Fort Scott 209 yards of offense.
As a unit, Coffeyville's defense is only allowing an average of 13.4 points per game which is the sixth lowest in the NJCAA.
Coffeyville will return to action with a home game scheduled against the Broncbusters of Garden City. That game will take place on Saturday, October 23rd at 7:00 pm under the lights of Veterans Memorial Stadium.