BY JOE JOE WRIGHT/joejoe.wright@cordeledispatch.com
Rochelle–It is a heated rivalry especially since both schools are close together and the fans from both communities are very familiar with each other.
Dooly county High Bobcats visited the Wilcox Patriots Friday night and the first half was loaded with hard hits and lots of defense. The half-time score was 8-7 Wilcox. After a scoreless 1st quarter and several turn over on downs Dooly county finally got on the board with a 49 yard strike from quarterback Jordan Miles to Desi Lester .The PAT was good and Dooly led 7-0. Wilcox came right back with a 50 yard reception by Antwan Benjamin from quarterback Landon Ledford that moved Wilcox deep into Dooly territory but the ball went over on downs and Dooly went back on offense. After failing to get a first down Dooly lined up to punt and faked it but didn’t make it. Wilcox would later also try unsuccessfully to run a fake punt. Wilcox got Dooly backed up against their goaline and got on the board with a safety and the score was 7-2. After a couple more exchanges between the two teams Wilcox scored on a 6 yard tote by Ta’Corian Hunlen the PAT was blocked and the score at half-time was 8-7. Wilcox however had another scoring opportunity with seconds to go in the half but a strong goaline defense by Dooly thwarted that attempt.
In the second half it was all Dooly as they ripped off 25 unanswered points to take 32-8 lead into the end of game.” I am very proud of my boys, we challenged them at half time to play their best because they sure didn’t in the first half and they answered the call,” said Head Coach Jimmy Hughes. “it was   a very physical game as it always is when we play Wilcox.”
“I thought we played well in the first half against a team like Dooly as physical as they are, “ said Head Coach Mark Ledford, but “ in the second half with five starters going down and the momentum going Doolys way it was hard to get anything going.” “Hats off to them they know how to win”.
In second half action John Clayton broke the game open with a 65 yard gallop for a touchdown the PAT was no good and the score was 13-8 Dooly. Then After a 2 yard tote by Jordan Miles and two touchdown carries by Stevie Rhodes of 3 yards and 5 yards with only one of the PAT’s being good Dooly had scored all it needed to secure the win. Defense standouts were plentiful on both sides as is usually the case in physical games.  Minimizing mistakes in the second half and capitalizing on big plays pushed a physical Dooly County over Wilcox.