PERKINSTON – The 11^th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs held off the Jones County Junior College Bobcats 37-27 here Thursday night at A.L. May Memorial Stadium.
The Bulldogs led 17-0 in the second quarter before JCJC rallied to within 20-14 midway through the third quarter. But MGCCC would stretch the lead back out to 37-14 early in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats would come back again only to fall short.
JCJC quarterback Thad Miller, who played at MGCCC last year, completed 25-of-45 passes for 412 yards and three touchdowns. However, he had two pass interceptions – both of which were returned for touchdowns by MGCCC in the second half.
Bobcat wide receiver Carlos Burse, a Southern Miss commit, had a big night with 12 receptions for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Logan Scott had three catches for 101 yards and Tevin Moore caught two passes for 58 yards and also rushed for a touchdown.
Defensively, defensive back Ramon Patton led the Bobcats with 13 tackles. The team's leading tackler for the season, linebacker Ty Hill, had another excellent game with 12 tackles, a fumble recovery and one tackle for loss. End Markell Winters had 10 tackles and one tackle for loss. Tackle Johnkil Skipper had four tackles, one quarterback sack and one tackle for loss. Linebacker Jahmaad Harrell had nine tackles. Tackle Reginal Hamilton ahd three tackles, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss. Safety Al'Dreecous Wilson had eight tackles and end Tramond Lofton had three tackles and one tackle for loss.
Each team finished with 22 first downs with the Bobcats holding a 465-413 edge in total offense.
JCJC falls to 2-3 overall, 2-1 in the MACJC South Division. The Bulldogs are now 4-1 and 3-0.
The Bobcats took the game's opening kickoff and drove from their 20-yard line to the MGCCC 28 where the drive stalled. Michael Godley's 45-yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar and bounced back to the artificial turf to end the drive.
The Bulldogs then took ball possession and drove 72 yards in 11 plays. Quarterback A.J. Erdely connected with Ishmel Morrow for a 12-yard scoring pass. Joshua Rowland's extra point made it 7-0 with 7:05 left in the first quarter.
MGCCC moved 62 yards in nine plays on its next possession. Ge'Vonte Jones scored on a 4-yard run and Rowland's PAT made it 14-0 with 2:29 left in the first quarter.
The big play of the drive occurred when the Bulldogs faced a fourth and 6 at its own 42. They punted the ball, but the Bobcats were called for roughing the kicker and MGCCC was able to continue its drive.
The Bulldogs would then score on its third possession of the game.
They drove from their own 35 to the Bobcat 10 in nine plays. Rowland's 27-yard field goal made it 17-0 with 12:03 left in the first half.
The Bobcats would take over at its own 16 after the MGCCC kickoff.
On first down, Miller handed the ball to running DeSherrius Flowers, who flipped it back to Miller. He found a wide open Scott on the 'flea flicker' down the middle of the field for a 79-yard gain.
Moore would later score on a fourth and goal play from the 1. Godley's extra point made it 17-7 with 9:47 left in the first half.
MGCCC would take a 20-7 lead into halftime when Rowland booted a 31-yard field goal with 4:08 left in the second quarter.
JCJC would score first in the second half with a quick, 60-yard, three-play march.
After an incomplete pass, Miller hit Moore for a 41-yard gain and then found Kyle Oliver for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Godley's conversion made it 20-14 with 7:59 left in the third quarter.
The Bobcats then forced a 'three and out' and took over at their own 28 with a chance to take the lead.
But two plays later, Miller's pass was intercepted by Marcus Betts, who ran it back 50 yards for a score. Rowland's kick made it 27-14 with 5:32 left in third quarter.
JCJC then took the Bulldog kickoff and moved from their own 30 to the MGCCC 38 where they went for it on fourth and 4. But Miller's pass fell incomplete and the Bulldogs took over on downs.
MGCCC then drove to the Bobcat 24 where the drive stalled. Rowland came in and kicked a 41-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 30-14 lead with 14:20 left in the game.
Two plays after the MGCCC kickoff, Miller would be picked off by Octavis Johnson, who returned it 27 yards for a score. Rowland's conversion made it 37-14 with 13:55 remaining.
The Bobcats would then drive 67 yards in nine plays. Miller found Burse for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Godley's kick made it 37-21 with 10:29 left.
On JCJC's next possession, they drove 80 yards in seven plays. Miller connected with Burse for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 5:00 left to play. The Bobcats went for two to try and make it a one score game, but Miller's pass fell incomplete.
MGCCC then took over at the JCJC 44 after a failed onside kick attempt. The Bulldogs moved for two first downs before the Bobcats held them on downs at their own 8 with just 51 seconds to play.
JCJC was able to move to the Bulldog 43 when time expired.
The Bobcats return home in their next contest, hosting No. 6 East Mississippi at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv and WLAU-FM, 99.3.
Mississippi Gulf Coast travels to Southwest Mississippi next week.
 
 
Mississippi Gulf Coast 37, Jones County 27
Thursday, September 24
A.L. May Memorial Stadium
Perkinston
 
Jones County                        0  7  7  13 – 27
Miss. Gulf Coast                   14 6 7 10 – 37 
 
Scoring summary
1^st quarter – MGCCC, Ishmel Morrow 12-yard pass from A.J. Erdely, 7:05. Joshua Rowland PAT. MGCCC 8-0.
1^st quarter – MGCCC, Ge'Vonte Jones 4-yard run, 2:29. Rowland PAT. MGCCC 14-0.
2^nd quarter – MGCCC, Rowland 27-yard field goal, 12:03. MGCCC 17-0.
2^nd quarter – JCJC, Tevin Moore 1-yard run, 9:47. Michael Godley PAT. MGCCC 17-7.
2^nd quarter – MGCCC, Rowland 31-yard field goal, 4:08. MGCCC 20-7.
3^rd quarter – JCJC, Kyle Oliver 19-yard pass from Thad Miller, 7:59. Godley PAT. MGCCC 20-14.
3^rd quarter – MGCCC, Marcus Betts 50-yard interception return, 5:32. Rowland PAT. MGCCC 27-14.
 4^th quarter – MGCCC, Rowland 41-yard field goal, 14:20. MGCCC 30-14.
4^th quarter – MGCCC, Octavis Johnson 27-yard interception return, 13:55. Rowland PAT. MGCCC 37-14.
4^th quarter – JCJC, Carlos Burse 16-yard pass from Miller, 10:29. Godley PAT. MGCCC 37-21.
4^th quarter – JCJC, Burse 22-yard pass from Miller, 5:00. Pass failed. MGCCC 37-27.
 
 
Jones County                                                Miss. Gulf Coast
22                               FD                               22
24-53                         Rushes-Yards               51-243
25-45-2                      Comp-Att-Int                 19-27-0
412                             Passing Yards              170
465                             Total Offense                413
8-68                            Penalties-Yards            16-125
4-45.0                         Punts-Ave.                    4-37.2
1-0                              Fumbles-Lost                2-1
   
JCJC statistics
Rushing
JCJC – Stephen Cowan 7-28; DeSherrius Flowers 7-12; Jarkice Davis 5-7; James Milledge 2-4; Tevin Moore 3-2.
 
Passing
JCJC – Thad Miller 25-45-2 for 412.
 
Receiving
JCJC– Carlos Burse 12-176; Logan Scott 3-101; Tevin Moore 2-58; Devin Elliot 1-23; Barry Gibson 2-14; Kyle Oliver 1-19; Stephen Cowan 3-19; DeSherrius Flowers 1-2.