ELLISVILLE – Jones College faced a must-win MACCC South Division game against No. 9 Hinds here Thursday night at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field.
 
The Bobcats responded with a solid, 31-21 victory over the Eagles to improve to 4-2 overall, 1-2 in the division. It was the first division loss for Hinds who drops to 4-2 and 2-1.
 
Jones overcame a 14-10, second quarter deficit and also had two players rush for 100 yards in a game for the second time this season. Quarterback Jevarion Glover (Amanda Elzy) carried 15 times for 121 yards and a touchdown and running back Ky'Yon Harris (Union) had 18 rushes for 114 yards and two scores.
 
The Eagles opened the game in impressive fashion. They took the kickoff and drove 75 yards in 17 plays and used up 7:50 of the clock. Quarterback Jaylon Ruffin connected with Jaiden Turnipseed for a 14-yard touchdown pass and Wyatt Long's extra point made it 7-0 with 7:10 left in the first quarter. Hinds converted four third down situations in the drive.
 
But the defense came through and set up the Bobcats' first touchdown of the night.
 
Kelton McLaurin (Oak Grove) intercepted a Ruffin pass and gave Jones ball possession at the Eagle 25-yard line.
 
After a Glover rush for four yards, Harris carried four straight times, including a 6-yard touchdown run. Christian Baglione's (Northwest Rankin) extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 1:32 left in the opening quarter.
 
On its next drive Jones went 51 yards in six plays with Baglione booting a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-7 with 10:44 left in the first half.
 
The lead was short-lived as Ruffin would race 79 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage after the Bobcat kickoff. Long's conversion gave Hinds a 14-10 lead with 10:24 to play in the second quarter.
 
Jones would answer on its next possession, moving 75 yards in eight plays. On a third and three, Harris would run 19 yards for a touchdown and Baglione's extra point made it 17-14 with 6:02 left in the second quarter.
 
After forcing a Hinds' punt, Jones took over on its own 26 with just 2:23 left in the first half.
 
The Bobcats would put together a 74-yard, 5-play march to increase the lead just before halftime. Glover scored on a 10-yard run and Baglione's kick made it 24-14 with 1:10 left in the first half.
 
Jones increased the lead with an impressive, 82-yard, 13-play drive on its second possession of the second half. On a third and goal at the 4-yard line, CJ Rush (Philadelphia) would carry into the end zone for a touchdown. Baglione's extra point made it 31-14 with 2:54 left in the third quarter.
 
Ruffin's 1-yard run with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter ended the scoring.
 
Glover completed 10-of-14 passes for 117 yards to account for 238 yards of total offense.
 
Cobey Craft (Taylorsville) had two catches for 36 yards and Santae McWilliams Jr. (Saraland, Ala.) had one reception for 36 yards.
 
Defensively, linebacker Delarrius Hayes (Magee) led the Bobcats with nine tackles. Isaiah Lindsey (West Jones) had eight stops and Malaki Page (Bay Springs) had seven tackles. Dalyn Pierce (Bay Springs) had six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. Tmarion Phillips (Roanoke, Ala.) had four tackles, two TFLs and one sack.
 
Punter Luke Stewart (Oak Grove) averaged 43.5 yards on four punts and put three inside the 20-yard line.
 
Ruffin had a big game for the Eagles, completing 20-of-32 passes for 284 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He had 16 carries for 141 yards and a score, giving him 425 yards of total offense.
 
Geron Johnson rushed 11 times for 71 yards and Braishun Forbes had seven receptions for 91 yards. Jermar McCarter had 10 tackles for the Eagles.
 
Jones had 21 first downs, 274 yards rushing, 117 yards passing and 391 yards of total offense.
 
Hinds had 28 first downs, 262 yards rushing, 284 yards passing and 546 yards of total offense.
 
Jones visits East Central next week for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 16.
 
Hinds hosts Southwest on Oct. 16.