ELLISVILLE – The "Cat Fight" belongs to Jones College for another year.
Jevarion Glover threw for 263 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as Jones defeated Pearl River 20-13 Thursday night at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field in the 96th annual meeting between the longtime rivals.
The victory extended Jones' winning streak over Pearl River to 10 consecutive games and gave the Bobcats a win in their MACCC South Division opener.
Jones improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in division play, while Pearl River dropped to 2-2 and 0-1.
Glover was at the center of nearly everything offensively for the Bobcats. He completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tyree Barnett to open the scoring before adding touchdown runs of 12 and 1 yards.
After a scoreless opening 12 minutes, Jones put together an 83-yard touchdown march late in the first quarter. Glover finished the six-play drive by finding Barnett for a 20-yard score with 2:04 remaining, and Wyatt Jones' extra point gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.
Pearl River answered with its longest sustained drive of the first half. The Wildcats went 72 yards in 12 plays, with Jackson Firmin scoring from 2 yards out to tie the game at 7-7 with 12:46 left in the second quarter.
The score remained tied until Jones struck just before halftime.
Delarrius Hayes forced a PRCC fumble and Malachi Henderson recovered it to set up Jones at the Pearl River 26.
The Bobcats needed only four plays and 29 seconds to regain the lead. Glover capped the short drive with a 12-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining, sending Jones into halftime with a 14-7 advantage.
The Bobcats then produced their longest scoring drive of the night early in the third quarter.
Jones traveled 89 yards in eight plays, with Glover finishing the march on a 1-yard quarterback keeper on fourth and goal. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving the Bobcats ahead 20-7 with 8:04 remaining in the third.
Pearl River needed just 79 seconds to respond.
Firmin connected with DK Wallace for a 45-yard touchdown to pull the Wildcats within seven at 20-13 with 6:45 left in the quarter. Pearl River's two-point attempt failed.
Neither team scored again.
Jones' defense made the seven-point advantage stand throughout the fourth quarter, keeping Pearl River off the scoreboard over the final 21:45.
Jordyn Smith had a team-high 11 tackles and a breakup, Delarrius Hayes had 10 tackles, three-for-loss, a sack and forced fumble and Arterus Moffett grabbed his first career interception, a big one in the end zone that preserved a win.
Glover finished with 263 passing yards and added 49 yards on the ground. Jet Henderson led the Jones receiving corps with 73 yards.
Jones will travel to Wesson next Thursday, Sept. 24 for a 6:30 kick against Copiah-Lincoln. The game will be streamed at jcbobcats.com/watch.
