SUMMIT – Leading 17-14 with less than seven minutes remaining, the Jones County Junior College Bobcats needed a big play on defense.
Al'Dreecous Wilson answered the call for the Bobcats.
Wilson intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Bobcats some breathing room and propel JCJC to a 27-14 victory over Southwest Mississippi here on a soggy Thursday night at John I. Hurst Stadium.
The win gives JCJC a 1-2 overall record, but 1-0 in the MACJC South Division. Southwest drops to 1-2 and 0-1.
The Bears had recovered a JCJC fumbled punt and were in business at the Bobcat 35-yard line facing a third and 6.
That's when Wilson, a sophomore 'Bobcat' safety from Opelika, Alabama, jumped the route, picked off the pass and raced unscathed into the end zone for the touchdown with 6:43 left in the game.
Two possessions later, running back Jarkice Davis scampered 61 yards to give the Bobcats a first and goal at the Southwest 10. Three plays later, placekicker Michael Godley booted a 38-yard field goal with 2:44 left to provide the final margin.
JCJC received several standout defensive performances, including Wilson's score, six tackles, a couple of quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery by end Javarious Tanner, and a sack from Arie Anderson.
For the third straight game, linebacker Ty Hill had double-digit tackles, getting 10 vs. the Bears. Defensive back Ramon Patton had eight tackles and linebacker Jahmaad Harrell had seven stops, including one tackle for loss.
The Bobcats limited the Bears to just 11 first downs, 68 passing yards and 251 yards of offense.
Meanwhile, Davis piled up 118 yards on 17 carries and DeSherrius Flowers had 80 yards on 17 carries. Davis is a freshman from Port St. Joe, Florida, and Flowers is a freshman from Mobile, Alabama. Carlos Burse, a freshman receiver from Alpharetta, Georgia, and a Southern Miss commit, had six catches for 98 yards and Gulfport sophomore quarterback Thad Miller was 23-of-38 for 173 yards.
JCJC scored on its opening possession of the night when they drove 77 yards in 14 plays, picking up five first downs along the way.
Receiver Tevin Moore, operating out of the 'wild Bobcat' formation, took a direct snap and ran 9 yards for the touchdown. Godley's extra point made it 7-0 at the 8:59 mark of the first quarter.
But Southwest answered quickly, taking advantage of a 54-yard kickoff return by LaDarion Peterson that put the ball at the JCJC 41. Justin Blue then rushed 40 yards to the Bobcat 1.
Three plays later, quarterback Tyler Shell scored on a 1-yard keeper. Reed James' conversion made it 7-7 with 7:27 left in the first quarter.
The Bobcats had their chances to add to the lead in the second quarter, but twice turned the ball over on downs in Bear territory.
Late in the first half, JCJC drove from its own 15 to the Southwest 7 in 15 plays. But Godley's 24-yard field goal attempt was off to the right with just :05 left and the teams would go to halftime tied at 7-7.
The Bobcats would regain the lead on its second possession of the second half.
JCJC drove 71 yards in eight plays. Stephen Cowan scored when he powered his way in from the 5-yard line. A 38-yard pass from Miller to Burse was the big play in the drive. Godley's conversion made it 14-7 with 6:55 left in the third quarter.
But Southwest took the ensuing kickoff and marched 77 yards in eight plays to tie the game.
Jamaal Booth caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Shell and James kicked the extra point to make it 14-14 with 3:37 left in the third quarter.
Tanner's fumble recovery at the Bear 30-yard line would set up the go-ahead score.
The Bobcats drove to the Southwest 11 in eight plays with Godley booting a 28-yard field goal to put Jones ahead 17-14 with 12:22 remaining. JCJC converted a fourth and 1 at the 21 when Moore ran for a 3-yard gain.
Three possessions later, Wilson would come through with the clutch interception.
JCJC returns home at 7 p.m. on Sept. 17 to face Pearl River. The Wildcats, 1-2, lost 35-7 to Hinds on Thursday night. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv and WLAU-FM, 99.3.
The Bears travel to top-ranked Copiah-Lincoln on Sept. 17.

 
 
Jones County 27, Southwest 14
Thursday, September 10
John I. Hurst Stadium
Summit
 
Jones County                        7   0   7  13 – 27
Southwest                             7   0   7   0   – 14
 
Scoring summary
1^st quarter – JCJC, Tevin Moore 9-yard run, 8:59. Michael Godley PAT. JCJC 7-0.
1^st quarter – SMCC, Tyler Shell 1-yard run, 7:57. Reed James PAT. 7-7.
3^rd quarter – JCJC, Stephen Cowan 5-yard run, 6:55. Godley PAT. JCJC 14-7.
3^rd quarter – SMCC, Jamaal Booth 15-yard pass from Shell, 3:37. James PAT. 14-14.
4^th quarter – JCJC, Godley 28-yard field goal, 12:22. JCJC 17-14.
4^th quarter – JCJC, Al'Dreecous Wilson 70-yard interception return, 6:43. Godley PAT. JCJC 24-14.
4^th quarter – JCJC, Godley 38-yard field goal, 2:44. JCJC 27-14
 
Jones County                                                Southwest
24                               FD                             11
46-229                       Rushes-Yards            37-183
23-38-0                      Comp-Att-Int              10-20-1
173                             Passing Yards           68
402                             Total Offense             251
6-40                            Penalties-Yards         6-60
4-37.0                         Punts-Ave.                 8-38.2
2-1                              Fumbles-Lost             3-1
 
JCJC statistics
Rushing
JCJC – Jarkice Davis 17-118; DeSherrius Flowers 17-80; Tevin Moore 5-13; Stephen Cowan 6-11; Thad Miller 1-7.
 
Passing
JCJC – Thad Miller 23-38-0 for 173.
 
Receiving
JCJC– Carlos Burse 6-98; Tevin Moore 3-26; Logan Scott 3-25; Jarkice Davis 3-10; Bryson Ellis 2-8; Barry Gibson 1-4; Nate Cohen 2-2; DeSherrius Flowers 1-0; Kyle Oliver 1-0; Stephen Cowan 1-0.