ELLISVILLE – The 2015 Jones County Junior College season was epitomized in the Bobcats' 17-14 loss to No. 10 Copiah-Lincoln here Thursday night at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field.
JCJC fought hard, had several chances to prevail, but came up short in the season finale for both teams.
The Bobcats end the year at 2-7 overall, 2-4 in the MACJC South Division. Co-Lin finishes at 5-4 overall, 4-2 in the division. The Wolfpack tied East Central and Hinds for second place in the division, but East Central won the tiebreaker and will advance to the playoffs on Oct. 31.
JCJC was trailing 17-7 early in the fourth quarter when Al'Dreecous Wilson intercepted a pass and gave the Bobcats a first down at the Co-Lin 44-yard line with 11:34 remaining.
JCJC converted two fourth down plays and eventually had a second and goal at the Wolfpack 5-yard line.
Stephen Cowan would take a handoff from quarterback Kelvin Bourrage and score. Michael Godley's extra point made it 17-14 with 6:52 left in the game.
JCJC forced a 'three and out' and took over at its own 48 with 5:15 left.
On the very next play, Tevin Moore raced 40 yards down the sideline to give the Bobcats a first down at the Co-Lin 12. But consecutive running plays would lose 12 yards and Bourrage's third down and 22 pass attempt fell incomplete.
On fourth down, Godley's 41-yard field goal attempt had plenty of distance, but was off to the left and the Wolfpack maintained a 3-point lead with 3:34 remaining.
Again, the Bobcats held the Wolfpack without a first down and forced a punt. JCJC took over at its own 21 with 2:17 and no timeouts.
But JCJC would move steadily downfield with Moore gaining 15 yards on a run and Bourrage connecting with Logan Scott for a 27-yard completion to the 34. Bourrage then found Nate Cohen for completions of 6 and 12 yards and the Bobcats had a first down at the Co-Lin 16 with 50 seconds left.
Bourrage would then lose eight yards on a sack, but Co-Lin was called for pass interference on the next play, giving JCJC a first down at the Wolfpack 15 with 25 seconds to play.
Bourrage threw incomplete on first down, but his second down pass was intercepted in the end zone by Joseph Este with 15.4 seconds left to clinch the game for the Wolfpack. It was the second interception of the game for Este.
Co-Lin had the game's only first half score.
On its second possession of the game, the Wolfpack went 53 yards in five plays. Quarterback Garrett Kruzcek found tight end Matias Robinson on a 32-yard touchdown strike. Greg Nickles kicked the extra point and the Wolfpack led 7-0 with 6:04 left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Co-Lin was driving near midfield. But Kruczek's deep pass was intercepted by Jamal Blackwell at the Bobcat 5-yard line. Blackwell returned it all the way out to his own 45, but JCJC would not be able to move the ball and would be forced to punt.
Later in the half, Blackwell picked off Kruzcek again and returned it from the Wolfpack 27 down to the 10 to give JCJC a first and goal. But two plays later, Jarkice Davis fumbled after hard hit on a screen pass completion from Bourrage and Co-Lin's Colton Magee recovered at his own 15 to end the threat.
To start the second half, Al'Dreecous Wilson returned the kickoff 49 yards to the Wolfpack 46.
But on JCJC's first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Moore would fumble after an 11-yard gain and Co-Lin's Scooter Jones recovered at the Wolfpack 35.
Co-Lin moved into JCJC territory, but would turn the ball over on downs at the Bobcat 30.
Two plays later, Bourrage dumped a short screen pass to his left to Moore. Moore would take it the distance, racing 68 yards for a touchdown. Godley's extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 10:21 left in the third quarter.
However, JCJC was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the touchdown and Godley would have to kick off from his own 20.
Co-Lin's John Ferguson would return the kick from his own 20 out to midfield.
Five plays later, Kruzcek called his own number on a quarterback draw and raced 18 yards for a touchdown. Nickles kicked the extra point and Co-Lin led 14-7 with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter.
On JCJC's next possession, Este intercepted Bourrage to stop a Bobcat drive.
Two possessions later, Co-Lin drove from its own 17 to the Bobcat 7-yard line in nine plays. On fourth and goal, Nickles booted a 24-yard field with 1:37 left in the third quarter, which gave Co-Lin a 17-7 lead and would prove to be the difference in the game.
Moore, who was moved to the backfield from his receiver slot for this game, led the Bobcats with 128 yards on 16 carries. He also had the 68-yard pass reception. Scott had three catches for 53 yards and Bourrage was 10-of-23 for 165 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Linebacker Jahmaad Harrell led the Bobcats with 13 tackles and a pass breakup. Linebacker Ty Hill had nine tackles and one tackle for loss. End Markel Winters had eight tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. End Javarious Tanner had seven tackles and a quarterback sack. Blackwell had four tackes and two interceptions, while Wilson had two tackles and an interception.
Kruzcek was 22-of-38 for 215 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Robinson had three catches for 85 yards and a score, while Ole Miss transfer Dayall Harris had seven receptions for 68 yards for the Wolfpack.
Each team had 17 first downs, but Co-Lin outgained JCJC in total offense, 367-275.
 
 
Copiah-Lincoln 17, Jones County 14
Thursday, October 22
Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field
Ellisville
 
Copiah-Lincoln (4-2, 5-4)     7  0  10 0 – 17
Jones County (2-7, 2-4)         0   0  7  7 – 14
 
 
Scoring summary
1^st quarter – Co-Lin, Matias Robinson 32-yard pass from Garrett Kruzcek, 6:04. Greg Nickles PAT. Co-Lin 7-0.
3^rd quarter – JCJC, Tevin Moore 68-yard pass from Kelvin Bourrage, 10:21. Michael Godley PAT. 7-7.
3^rd quarter – Co-Lin, Garrett Kruzcek 18-yard run, 8:14. Nickles PAT. Co-Lin 14-7.
3^rd quarter – Co-Lin, Nickles 24-yard field goal, 1:37. Co-Lin 17-7.
4^th quarter – JCJC, Stephen Cowan 5-yard run, 6:52. Godley PAT. Co-Lin 17-14.
 
 
Copiah-Lincoln                                            Jones County
17                               FD                               17
33-152                       Rushes-Yards              44-110
22-38-3                      Comp-Att-Int                10-23-2
215                             Passing Yards             165
367                             Total Offense               275
4-34                            Penalties-Yards           5-35
6-39.3                         Punts-Ave.                   7-42.2
1-0                              Fumbles-Lost               3-2
 
JCJC statistics
Rushing
JCJC – Tevin Moore 16-128; Jarkice Davis 7-10; Stephen Cowan 7-minus 2; Kelvin Bourrage 14-minus 26.
 
Passing
JCJC – Kelvin Bourrage 10-23-2 for 165,
 
Receiving
JCJC– Tevin Moore 1-68; Logan Scott 3-53; Carlos Burse 3-23; Nate Cohen 2-18; Jarkice Davis 1-3.