ELLISVILLE – The 18^th-ranked Jones County Junior College Bobcats had hurt themselves this season with turnovers.
That problem was magnified when JCJC turned the ball over six times – including four straight possessions to start the second half – and dropped a 30-23 decision to Pearl River here Saturday afternoon at Homecoming at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field.
JCJC led 16-7 at halftime, but threw an interception on its second play of the third quarter. On its next possession, another interception led to a Wildcat field goal.
The Bobcats then put together a drive to the near the Pearl River 20-yard line, but lost the ball on a fumble. Pearl River drove for the go-ahead touchdown after that mistake.
JCJC then took the ensuing kickoff and promptly threw a 'pick six' to the Wildcats.
The Bobcats, 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the MACJC South Division, will make its final road trip of the year on Thursday when they travel to Hinds for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will air on www.jcjc.tv.
Pearl River, 2-5 overall and 2-2 in the division, goes to Mississippi Gulf Coast on Oct. 22.
Running back Scott Phillips (South Jones) had a solid day on the ground for the Bobcats with 30 carries for 141 yards. Quarterback Detric Hawthorn (Collins) rushed for 75 yards and running back Rashaud Green (Bassfield) gained 65 yards.
JCJC finished the game with 336 yards on the ground, but only had 24 through the air.
The Bobcats outgained Pearl River 360-230 in total offense and had 19 first downs compared to PRCC's nine.
But Jones had six turnovers, compared to PRCC's two. JCJC is now minus 15 in the turnover category this season.
The game started off as well as it could for Jones.
Pearl River took the opening kickoff and started the game's first possession at its own 15.
On the first play from scrimmage, the ball was snapped to quarterback Andrew Dunn, but it was bobbled and went into the hands of JCJC defensive end Marques Ford (Riverview, Florida). Ford promptly ran it in from 10 yards away for the touchdown. The extra point attempt, however, hit the upright and JCJC led 6-0 with 14:49 left in the first quarter.
Later in the first quarter, JCJC linebacker Cannon Gibbs (Northwest Rankin) recovered a Wildcat fumble at the PRCC 32. But the Bobcats could not move and a 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
PRCC would then take advantage of a Bobcat turnover to get their first touchdown.
JCJC's DeShawn Smith (Brooksville, Florida) fumbled a punt at his own 38 and PRCC's Justin Hulett recovered. The Bobcats were assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and Pearl River took over on the JCJC 23.
Five plays later, the Wildcats faced a fourth and goal at the Bobcat 1. Quarterback Timothy Arnold found Cameron Bolton in the end zone for the touchdown and Mark Johnson's extra point gave PRCC a 7-6 lead with 7:37 left in the first half.
Later in the half, JCJC put together a 61-yard, six-play drive. Smith capped the march with a 20-yard run down the right sideline. The Bobcats successfully converted the two-point conversion when receiver Nate Cohen (East Central) took a reverse toss and threw into the end zone to quarterback Hawthorn. That gave the Bobcats a 14-7 lead with 2:19 left in the first half.
Jones added to the lead when the defensive line overwhelmed the PRCC offensive line and sacked Arnold in the end zone for a safety. That made it 16-7 with
1:21 left in the second quarter.
But the barrage of turnovers gave all the momentum to the Wildcats in the third quarter.
Daylon Burks picked off a Hawthorn pass at his own 31 and returned to the Bobcat 46. A 15-yard penalty against Jones moved the ball to the 31.
Three plays later, Johnson kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 16-10 with 10:36 left in the third quarter.
JCJC then moved from its own 11 to the Wildcat 24 on the next possession. But Green would fumble, Randy Hogan recovered for PRCC and returned it to his 40.
Nine plays later, facing a third and 12 at the JCJC 26, Arnold rolled to his right and threw the ball into the end zone where Jay Banks Jr. made a one-handed catch for the touchdown. Johnson's extra point made it 17-16 with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
On PRCC's kickoff, the ball would hit return man Kendall Parham (Oak Grove) in the leg and go out of bounds at the Bobcat 7.
Three plays later, Zhaunte McElroy intercepted a Hawthorn pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good and Pearl River led 23-16 with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter.
JCJC started its next drive at its own 30.
The Bobcats ran the ball for 16 consecutive plays and moved all the way to the PRCC 11. But on fourth and 3, Phillips was dropped for a 3-yard loss and PRCC took over at its own 14.
Two plays later, Darious Leggett broke through the line for a 69-yard touchdown run for Pearl River. Johnson's extra point gave the Wildcats a 30-16 lead with 9:27 remaining in the game.
But the Bobcats battled back and pulled within a touchdown.
Hawthorn ended an 85-yard, 10-play drive with a 41-yard touchdown run, where he rolled to his right and then cut back all the way across the field, making several defenders miss and eventually making it into the end zone. Brady Farlow's (Purvis) conversion made it 30-23 with 6:18 to play.
The Bobcats forced a '3 and out' and would start its final drive at midfield.
JCJC drove to the Pearl River 17 and faced a fourth and 6 with 1:42 left. But Hawthorn was unable to find an open receiver, scrambled to his right and was dropped for a two-yard loss.
Pearl River then took over with 1:34 left and took a knee three straight times to end the game.
 
 
Pearl River 30, Jones County 23
Saturday, October 15
Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field
Ellisville
 
Pearl River  (2-5, 2-2)        0   7  16 7 – 30
Jones County (4-3, 1-3)      6  10  0  7 – 23
 
Scoring summary
1^st quarter – JCJC, Marques Ford 10-yard fumble recovery return, 14:49. Kick failed. JCJC, 6-0.
2^nd quarter – PRCC, Cameron Bolton 1-yard pass from Timothy Arnold, 7:37. Mark Johnson PAT. PRCC, 7-6.
2^nd quarter – JCJC, DeShawn Smith 20-yard run, 2:19. Detric Hawthorn pass from Nate Cohen for 2-point conversion. JCJC, 14-7.
2^nd quarter – JCJC, Arnold tackled in end zone for safety, 1:21. JCJC, 16-7.
3^rd quarter – PRCC, Johnson 48-yard field goal, 10:36. JCJC, 16-10.
3^rd quarter – PRCC, Jay Banks Jr. 26-yard pass from Arnold, 3:18. Johnson PAT. PRCC, 17-16.
3rd quarter – PRCC, Zhaunte McElroy 18-yard pass interception return, 2:37. Kick failed. PRCC, 23-16.
4^th quarter – PRCC, Darious Leggett 69-yard run, 9:27. Johnson PAT. PRCC, 30-16.
4^th quarter – JCJC, Hawthorn 41-yard run, 6:18. Brady Farlow PAT. PRCC, 30-23.
 
Pearl River                                                   Jones County
10                                FD                               19
43-94                       Rushes-Yards                59-336
7-20-0                        Comp-Att-Int                  4-18-4
115                             Passing Yards              24
209                            Total Offense               360
9-45                            Penalties-Yards           3-31
7-44.0                         Punts-Ave.                   4-43.8
4-2                              Fumbles-Lost               2-2
 
JCJC statistics
Rushing
JCJC – Scott Phillips 30-141; Detric Hawthorn 11-75; Rashaud Green 9-65; DeShawn Smith 3-50; Mason Blocker 5-3; Daquan Smith 1-2.
 
Passing
JCJC – Detric Hawthorn 2-11-2 for 17 yards; Mason Blocker 2-7-2 for 7 yards.
 
Receiving
JCJC – Rashaud Green 1-10; Trevor Terry 1-7; Scott Phillips 1-5; Kendall Parham 1-2.