Thomas McKnight, a former Vicksburg High star, sprints past a Co-Lin defender. (The Vicksburg Post/PAT SHANNAHAN)

RAYMOND Thomas McKnight is finally showing signs of the dominant running back he can be.

The former Vicksburg High standout rushed for 87 yards and a 4-yard touchdown to lead Hinds (7-1, 4-0 South Division) to a 29-7 win over Copiah-Lincoln (2-6, 1-3) Thursday night.

“My game is slowly coming back,” said McKnight, who injured his ankle last season and has averaged just 65 yards per game. “I’m trying to find my Mojo. I know it’s out there, I just have to find it.”

McKnight tacked on the last touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Eagles turned a slim halftime lead into a blowout.

A suffocating defensive effort in the second half, including allowing just 22 yards on 22 carries in the second half, kept the Wolves from cracking the scoreboard more than once.

Co-Lin converted a Hinds’ interception into a score with 3:55 left in the second quarter to pull to within 15-7.

“We were able to stay with them defensively, but we made a lot of mistakes on offense,” Co-Lin coach Phil Broome said. “We couldn’t control the ball and against Hinds, you just can’t do that.”

The Eagles held Co-Lin’s fourth-string quarterback, Corey Chase, to 48 yards on five completions. Former Hinds AHS standout Odell Bradley had two catches for 31 yards in the loss.

“We had a lot of focus tonight and came out ready to play,” said LSU signee Ranney Davis, whose wife gave birth to their first daughter earlier in the week. “We came out a little flat last week (a 14-7 win over East Central) and wanted to come out and play the way we know we can.”

Hinds scored on its first possession, a 16-play, 64-yard drive that took seven minutes from the opening kickoff. Chauncey Stovall, who led all receivers with seven catches, hauled in a 5-yard touchdown.

A pair of Trey Crum field goals sandwiched a safety to give the Eagles a 15-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Darius Bingham scored from 2 yards out for the lone Wolves’ score.

Oklahoma State transfer John Lewis scored on a 38-yard pass from Brad Banks in the third for a 22-7 Hinds lead. McKnight added his scoring run with 12:41 left in the game.

“We were creating some mistakes at times,” Hinds coach Gene Murphy said. “At times we executed well, but when we had our breakdowns it was pretty obvious.”

Banks finished with 143 yards and a pair of scores. Lewis hauled in four catches for 73 yards.

Hinds will play its last home game of the season Thursday against Jones at 7 p.m.