Bears set to close out season at Hinds

Looking to close out their season on a high note, the Southwest Bears make the trip to Raymond Thursday night to try and spoil the Homecoming of the Hinds Eagles.

The Bears enter the contest 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the MACJC South Division following their 38-14 Homecoming victory over East Central Saturday night. Hinds is 4-4 and 2-3 after falling at Jones County 52-45.

Southwest head coach Tucker Peavey said Hinds is a "big, athletic football team. They do a good job with their offense, both running and passing, and defensively they're very sound and have big guys up front. I think they're a very good team."

The keys to a Bears' win Thursday night, Peavey said, is "like it's been, we've got to be able to throw and catch the ball whenever we need to; I think that's what we've got to be able to do to keep drives alive." Peavey said the Bears also need to "try to get consistent on offense and eliminate three and out situations."

Bears' offensive coordinator Jamie Everett said defensively the Eagles "are very athletic. (They're) big up front, one of the biggest D-lines we've played. They're big and tall all over their defense."
The Eagles are surrendering almost 200 passing yards and almost 180 rushing yards per game. They have also recorded 12 interceptions and six fumble recoveries (defensive backs Keith Turner-6' 1", 188-and Charvarius Ward-6' 1", 178-both have three interceptions to lead their team).

What will it take for the Bears to be able to successfully run and pass the ball against them? "Execution," said Everett. "We have to do what we've done. We need to start off fast, unlike a couple of games we've played this year and we need some receivers to step up and make some plays."

"I think we can run the ball as well as anybody in this league," Everett continued. "But, we really need our quarterbacks and receivers to have their game stepped up this week."

"Hinds has a really, really good offense," said Bears' defensive coordinator Kelby Bowman. "They are very athletic in all positions. They're going to spread the ball out and they're going to throw it. They have a really good quarterback, James Summers (6' 3", 213). He's a good football player (and) has the ability to throw it and run it."

Summers has completed 95 of 180 passes for 1, 214 yards and eight touchdowns (he has been intercepted three times). He has also carried the ball 158 times for 835 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Bowman said Hinds also "has a couple of receivers that can catch the football." Jahmir Taylor (5' 11", 170) and Marquez McNair (6', 175) have combined to catch 36 passes for 559 yards and six touchdowns. "So, they're an all-around good team. I think they'll probably be one of the most athletic teams we've faced."

In addition to Summers' strength as a ball carrier, the Eagles also have a strong running back in Joshua Dixon (5' 9", 185) who has recorded 564 yards and five touchdowns on 106 carries. Will the Bears focus primarily on stopping those Dixon and Summers?

"I know trying to slow Summers down is going to be our priority," Bowman said. "I feel like if we can slow him down, that'll give us a better chance of winning. Good players are going to make plays; you're not going to stop him."

Southwest special teams coordinator Cameron Achord said Hinds "is probably the best team in all four units as far as the 'Big Four' is concerned-punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return-that we've faced all year. They're very sound (and) do a really good job."

"They've got a dynamic return man doing kickoff returns (Taylor has averaged 26.5 yards on 11 returns thus far). They haven't had a chance to return many punts because I think most people keep it away from him (Taylor). But, they're very solid in everything they do and we're going to have to be very good on special teams this week. We'll have to be well prepared and the kids are going to have to be focused and locked in more so than ever."

Kickoff is set for 7:00 Thursday night at Joe Renfroe Stadium on the Hinds campus. The game can be heard on the radio on WAKH 105.7FM (K106) as well as on the internet (southwestbearathletics.com and k106.net) and on tablets and smart phones (by downloading the k106 app).

Print Friendly Version

Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Bears set to close out season at Hinds