MONTICELLO - A 20-point deficit, two lost fumbles, and pert near 150 yards in penalty yards will typically lead to certain defeat.However, waging a three-hour marathon in their fifth straight game decided by six points or less, the Rison Wildcats got off the mat, dusted themselves off, and stormed back from a 20-0 first-half hole to defeat the Drew Central Pirates, 44-38, in homecoming ceremonies at Mike Pennington Stadium last Friday night. The win over Drew Central improved the Wildcats record to 12-0 against the Pirates in a series that started in 2008."Our kids have battled all year long. We've got 24 players and they keep fighting. Realistically, we ought to be sitting here at 61," Rison Coach Chris Vereen said about the come-from-behind win."I'm just so proud of our boys fighting back and taking control of the ball game and getting over a lot of adversity," he said.With the victory, the Wildcats pulled even in standings of the wild and wacky 8-3A Conference at 2-2 and 3-4 overall, while Drew Central slipped to 2-2 and 3-4. The 20-point deficit that the Wildcats erased Friday night is among the largest comebacks in Rison's history. The last season a Rison team has played in as many one-possession games was back in 1976, when the 'Cats lost their five games by a combined total of 20 points. And since 1960, only three other times has a Rison team had more penalty yards in a game than Friday night.When Drew Central went ahead 20-0 on the first snap of the second quarter, Rison had just a single first down and one lost fumble which led to the Pirates second touchdown. So, coming off a pair of heart-breaking defeats, things didn't appear as they were going to be getting any better for the Wildcats.However, it was light switch off, light switch on. From the one first down and a 20-0 deficit, the Wildcats' ground assault suddenly came alive, as they marched up and down the gridiron to move the chains 28 times and amass 523 ...
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