Bears to host Co-Lin tonight

Still looking for their first win of the season, the Bears host their third-straight NJCAA Top-20 team Thursday night as their arch-rival, Co-Lin, comes calling at John I. Hurst Stadium.

Co-Lin (2-1, 0-0 South) comes into the game ranked 9th in the latest poll after a 50-0 home win over Mississippi Delta. The Bears (0-2, 0-1 South) return home after a tough 31-29 loss at 6^th- ranked Jones County.

Southwest head coach Tucker Peavey knows his team is in for a tough night. But, he said the key to a Bears win is "the first thing we've got to do is not beat ourselves. Co-Lin's a very good football team and if we don't handle out own business and give them opportunities, then they'll beat us."

Peavey said that even though the game is against the school's biggest rival, he and the team would "go about it like it's any other game. I think, obviously, historically it's a rivalry game. But, now with recruiting the way it is, you don't have as many local kids on the teams. So, I think we've got to prepare for it like it's any other game and I'm sure they (Co-Lin) feels the same way. "

Looking at the Co-Lin defense, Southwest offensive coordinator Jamie Everett said "they've very good. They're big, they're physical and they're fast, which usually means you are a good team."

Everett said the Wolves are "big up front and they have speed in the secondary. They have a defensive end who's committed to Mississippi State (Johnathan Calvin-6' 3", 270-Murrah H. S.) (who is) a true SEC player. They have a junior college All-American (Demond Tucker-6' 1", 285-Hazlehurst H. S.) at defensive line who is very quick and explosive. He's (Tucker) not a big guy, but he makes a ton of plays."

Everett said he sees no weak spots in the Co-Lin defense. "The only weak spot you see," he said, "is going from a junior college All-American to a very, very good football player. They're very comparable to an East Mississippi-type team."

Offensively, Co-Lin is also a good team according the Bears' defensive coordinator Kelby Bowman. "Week in and week out," he said, "we're going to face a good team. But, this week I think we're going to face a really, really good team. They have the ability to run the ball well and throw the ball well."

Bowman said Co-Lin has "a (returning) quarterback (Daniel Fitzwater-6' 6", 235-Shreveport, LA) and an explosive receiver (Donald Gray-5' 11", 180-Memphis, TN) so we're going to have our hands full. They've also got a good running back (De' Lance Turner-5' 11", 205-Perry Central H. S.) so they're pretty balanced all around. We're going to have to be ready for them."

There is no seeable weakness to the Co-Lin offense according to Bowman. "They can (run and pass) very well. So, I think we've got to deal with us first, just make sure we get our adjustments together with what they're trying to do on offense and make sure we're in the right place and the right time."

Southwest special teams coach Cameron Achord said Co-Lin has "a pretty good kicker (Greg Nickles-5' 10", 165-East Rankin Academy) who kicks it into the end zone sometimes or at least within the five (yard line). So, we're going to have to be ready for that. He tries to pin them (kickoffs) deep inside the numbers so we've got to have a good return scheme and protect well."

"As far as their kickoff return unit," Achord went on, "last they took one back last week (running back Diquan Davis returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown against Mississippi Delta) so it's going to be another challenge. Our kickoff cover team answered the bell last week against Jones County and hopefully they can do it again against Co-Lin."

Achord said Co-Lin "does a couple of things different with their punt unit, scheme-wise, that we're going to have to be mentally aware of and prepared for and with their punt return unit, they like to come after it. So, we've got to be able to protect and hold up back there and just get the punt off."

Kickoff Thursday night is set for 7:00. Fans can listen to the game live on WAKH 105.7FM (K106) or on the internet at southwestbearathletics.com or k106.net. The game is also available on smartphones and tablets by downloading the k106 app.

Print Friendly Version

Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Bears to host Co-Lin tonight