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Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Bears fall at top-ranked East Mississippi

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Neil McLaurin
jucoweekly.org

Football | 8/28/2015 8:24:00 AM

BOX SCORE----
http://www.njcaa.org/sports/fball/2015-16/boxscores/20150827_wgc3.xml

The 2015 football season started on a down note for the Southwest Bears Thursday night as they dropped a 69-20 decision to the top-ranked East Mississippi Lions in Scooba.
 
After falling behind early, 7-0, the Bears appeared ready to make a game of it as they took a 14-7 lead. Quarterback Neil McLaurin scored on 17-yard run with 10:38 on the clock and LaDarion Peterson added a 24-yard scoring run with 7:49 to play. Reed James added the PAT after both scores. McLaurin later left the game with an injury.
 
The Lions then roared back with a four-yard scoring strike from Wyatt Roberts to Corey Davis and a 22-yard fumble return by Ronald Ollie and Grayson Pontius' extra points to hold a 21-14 lead after the first 15:00.
 
The Bears' defense hung tough in the second quarter, allowing only two Pontius field goals, as they trailed 27-14 at the end of the first half.
 
The Bears narrowed the gap to 27-20 with 12:11 to play in the third quarter when Tyler Shell connected with
Ravian Pierce for a 54-yard scoring pass to close out a five-play, 76-yard drive. James booted the PAT.
 
From that point on, it was all East Mississippi. The Lions answered the Bears' score with a 100-yard kickoff return by Isaiah Wright. The hosts then added three more scores in the quarter to make the score 55-20 and picked up their final two scores in the final quarter. After the game, Bears head coach Tucker Peavey said, "We just have to be able to play four quarters. At the end of the day, I think that's what's go to happen and when a little adversity comes along you can't panic and do things that are unsound or things that you know how to do, you don't do at that time."
 
"Offensively," Peavey went on, "we were three and out too much and a lot of it just pure execution. We'll go back to work this week and we'll see where we're at next week."
 
The Bears were held to 273 offensive yards in the game and lost two of three fumbles. Shell completed nine of 21passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. McLaurin completed one of three for 11 yards. Pierce hauled in five passes for 87 yards and a score.
 
Peterson carried the ball six times for 38 yards and a touchdown. Justin Blue totaled 37 yards on seven carries while McLaurin toted the ball five times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Lions totaled 712 yards of offense with Roberts and John Franklin combining to complete 34 of 56 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns. DJ Law and Jacquez Horsley combined to rush 22 times for 242 yards and a pair of scores.
 
Southwest returns to action on September 3 when the Bears travel to Moorhead to visit the Mississippi Delta Trojans. The Trojans opened their season with a 34-0 loss at East Central.
 
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Players Mentioned

Neil McLaurin

#1 Neil McLaurin

6' 2"
Freshman
LaDarion Peterson

#3 LaDarion Peterson

5' 10"
Sophomore
Ravian Pierce

#6 Ravian Pierce

6' 3"
Freshman
Tyler Shell

#12 Tyler Shell

6' 2"
Sophomore
Justin Blue

#22 Justin Blue

5' 8"
Sophomore
Reed James

#36 Reed James

5' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Neil McLaurin

#1 Neil McLaurin

6' 2"
Freshman
LaDarion Peterson

#3 LaDarion Peterson

5' 10"
Sophomore
Ravian Pierce

#6 Ravian Pierce

6' 3"
Freshman
Tyler Shell

#12 Tyler Shell

6' 2"
Sophomore
Justin Blue

#22 Justin Blue

5' 8"
Sophomore
Reed James

#36 Reed James

5' 10"
Sophomore