CLARKSDALE – Jones College built a 21-point first-half cushion, leaned on a dominant rushing attack and then held off a second-half rally from Coahoma to secure a 27-14 victory Thursday night at James E. Miller Stadium.
The Bobcats (1-1) piled up 494 total yards, including 279 on the ground, while limiting Coahoma (0-2) to just 228 total yards. Jones' rushing attack averaged 5.6 yards per carry and produced three touchdowns, with CJ Rush leading the way with a career-high 137 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Jevarion Glover also provided a steady presence through the air, completing 18 of 28 passes for 198 yards and a 26-yard touchdown strike to Jalen Jones.
Jones wasted little time establishing control.
With 7:08 remaining in the opening quarter, Glover connected with the aforementioned Jones to put the Bobcats ahead 7-0. The scoring drive covered 30 yards in just two plays.
Jones extended its advantage late in the first quarter when Santae McWilliams Jr. broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run. The score capped an impressive eight-play, 91-yard drive and gave the Bobcats a 14-0 lead.
McWilliams finished with 93 rushing yards on 18 attempts, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
The Bobcats continued to control the line of scrimmage in the second quarter. Terrell Surtain Jr. scored on an 8-yard run with 8:27 remaining in the half, finishing a nine-play, 71-yard drive that consumed more than four minutes.
Surtain's touchdown gave Jones a 21-0 lead and capped a first half in which the Bobcats repeatedly moved the ball on the ground.
While Jones missed three field-goal attempts — from 22, 42 and 22 yards — the Bobcats' offense compensated by consistently moving the ball between the tackles and finding the end zone.
Coahoma finally found its footing in the third quarter.
Jacob Clopton, who also handled quarterback duties for the Tigers, scored on a 2-yard run with 3:13 remaining in the quarter. The touchdown capped a 10-play, 54-yard drive and cut the Jones lead to 21-7.
Just 44 seconds later, Deshun Brooks intercepted a Glover pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown. Andrew Harrison's extra point made it a 21-14 game, suddenly putting Coahoma within one score after Jones had led by three touchdowns.
Jones answered with its most important drive of the night.
The Bobcats marched 74 yards on nine plays before Rush powered into the end zone from one yard out. The touchdown restored a two-score advantage at 27-14.
The extra point was unsuccessful, but Jones' defense and ball-control offense did the rest.
Jones' defense held Coahoma to only 74 passing yards, with Clopton completing 9 of 26 attempts. The Tigers did have success on the ground, rushing for 154 net yards, but Jones consistently limited their ability to turn those yards into points.
Delarrius Hayes led the Bobcats with seven total tackles, while Malaki Page added six.
Marcus Jasmin Jr. had Jones' lone sack and Dalyn Pierce added a forced fumble.
Jones hosts Northeast on Thursday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
