Bears drop game at Mississippi Gulf Coast

The Mississippi Gulf Coast ground game, and five turnovers that led to 24 points, was simply too much for the Southwest Bears to overcome Thursday night as they dropped a 48-7 MACJC South Division decision in Perkinston.

With the loss, Southwest dropped to 2-5 on the season and 1-3 in the South. The Bulldogs, ranked 8^th in the current NJCAA poll, moved to 5-2, 3-1.

"They're a good football team," Southwest head coach Tucker Peavey said of the Bulldogs." They're a power-running team. They had over 500 (rushing) yards, 98 of them on one play. You just can't give up those big plays. Until we can stop laying the ball on the ground, we'll have trouble beating anybody."

On the positive side, Peavey said he thought "we ran the ball very effectively (the Bears totaled 211 yards on the ground).But, again, when you're trying to have to play catch up it kind of puts you in a bad situation. We've just got to protect the football. I'm about at a point where I think it's down to the individual to make himself do that."

The Bulldogs led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter after Antwon Wells scored the first of his three touchdowns on a three-yard dash. Tristan Reynolds kicked the extra point. The score came following a Southwest fumble.

Wells added touchdown runs of nine and 12 yards in the second quarter while Terrian Page tossed a seven-yard scoring pass to Marlon Pope. Reynolds booted three PAT's and added a 26-yard field goal to give the hosts a 31-0 lead at the half.

After forcing the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs to start the second half, Southwest put together its only scoring drive of the game and scored the only points of the third quarter. Starting at their own 34-yard line, the Bears needed nine-plays to get on the scoreboard. Chris Jones did the honors on a 20-yard run to the end zone. Michal McDaniel added the extra point to make the score 31-7 at the 8:35 mark.

Gulf Coast scored 17 more points in the final quarter. An interception and short drive following a punt allowed Rod Williams to score two touchdowns, one on a 98-yard run. The final points, a 45-yard Reynolds field goal, came following the Bullodogs' recovery of a muffed kickoff return.

Jones led the Bears ground game with 90 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. De'Angelo Ballard ran 11 times for 36 yards while Jamal Hall had seven carries for 38yards.

Ballard completed nine of 21 passes for 71 yards. Jonathan McNair had five receptions for 38 yards while Bodarius Johnson had two catches for 16 yards.

The Bears recorded 10 first downs in the game and lost all four of their fumbles. They were penalized six times for 47 yards. Taylor Smith averaged 37 yards on five punts.

The Bulldogs' 531 yard rushing attack was led by Williams, who had 127 yards and two touchdowns on five carries. Page toted the ball 13 times for 125 yards while Wells had 112 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.

Page completed seven of 15 passes for 73 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Pope caught two passes for 23 yards and a score.

Gulf Coast had 21 first downs in the game. They were penalized three times for 30 yards. Kevin Phillips punted two times for an average of 23.5yards.

The Bears play their final home game of the season on October 17 when they host the Jones County Bobcats, currently ranked 2^nd in the NJCAA. The Bobcats were upset Thursday at home by Hinds, 24-20.

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Bears drop game at Mississippi Gulf Coast