Bears celebrate Homecoming vs. Coahoma

The Bears are back in the friendly confines of John I. Hurst Stadium again this week as they celebrate Homecoming against the Tigers of Coahoma Community College tonight. Kickoff is set for 5:00.

Coahoma comes into the game at 0-6 overall & 0-4 in the MACJC North after last week's 49-7 loss at Itawamba. The Bears are 2-4 (1-3 South) following a 37-10 home loss to 8^th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Some people might think that a winless team, with nothing to lose, might make for a more dangerous opponent. But, not Southwest head man Tucker Peavey. "Obviously, they're going to be hungry looking for a win," Peavey said. "If you watch them on film, they've got some good athletes and they've played some good teams (and) have had some balls bounce the other teams' way a few times. I think at the end of the day they're just the next team on the schedule for us and we've got to expect to play our best to have a chance to win."

The Tigers are giving up over 400 yards of offense per game (over 240 passing and over 180 rushing). Asked if he plans to throw everything at the visitors and force them to try to step up, Peavey said, "We've got to be able to run and throw the ball just like we do every week. If they line up to stop the run, we've got to be able to throw the ball and vice versa. You watch people execute against them and I think that's what we've got to do. If you don't, then you're going to be in trouble."

In order for the Bears to cap Homecoming with a win, Peavey said "I think we've got to play solid defense-make them drive the field and don't give up big plays-and, offensively, we've got to execute what we have the ability to do and that they give us the opportunity to do."

On the offensive side of the ball, the Tigers are picking up less than 200 yards passing and less than 100 yards rushing per contest. Despite that, Bears' defensive coordinator Kelby Bowman said, "As usual, I think we have to prepare to stop the run first, as any defense does. I don't think their pass percentage is that high that we need to just focus on all passes, but I do think they throw the ball a pretty good bit."

Bowman said the Tigers are a good team, despite their record. "They have a lot of talent," he said, "and on any given day anything can happen in this league. So, I think our approach (to the game) has to be we have extra days (to prepare because of Homecoming and) we have to make sure we're fundamentally sound."

"Coahoma lines up in a lot of different formations and a lot of different looks. Their passing concept can be a bit complicated," Bowman continued. "They have a quarterback (Dominic Marino-6' 2", 195) who's going to be probably the second best athletic quarterback we'll face this year. He can run the ball, he has the ability to escape and he has some speed. So, we're going to have our hands full formation-wise (and) play-calling wise. We've just got to take advantage of this (extra) time to prepare for them."

If you can't make it to the game, you can listen on WAKH 105.7FM (k106). You can also hear the game on the internet at southwestbearathletics.com and k106.net or on smart phones (download the k106 app).

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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears celebrate Homecoming vs. Coahoma