Football | 9/11/2015 6:43:00 AM

Box Score

Thirteen fourth-quarter points, 10 coming as a direct result of turnovers, allowed the visiting Jones County Bobcats to open MACJC South Division play with a 27-14 win over the Southwest Bears Thursday night in Summit. The win pushed the Bobcats to 1-2 on the season (1-0 in the South) while the Bears fell to 1-2 and 0-1.
 
The teams were tied 7-7 after the first half of play with both scoring touchdowns in the first quarter. The Bobcats got on the board first with Tevin Moore completing a 13-play, 77-yard drive with a one-yard scamper into the end zone with 8:59 on the clock. Michael Godley booted the extra point to put the visitors on top.
 
Returning the ensuing kickoff to the Bobcats' 46-yard line, the Bears quickly answered with a score of their own as quarterback Tyler Shell completed the short four-play march with a one-yard scoring run. Reed James ' PAT then tied the game at 7-7 and it remained that way the rest of the half.
 
Both teams scored a touchdown in the third quarter to knot the game at 14-14 with 15:00 left in the game. The Bobcats' score, with 6:55 on the clock, came on a five-yard Stephen Cowan run that capped a seven-play, 71-yard drive. Godley again added the extra point.
 
Taking just over 3:11, the Bears again quickly responded with a score of their own. Taking over at their own 23-yard line, the home team put together an eight-play drive that culminated in a 15-yard Shell to Ravian Pierce touchdown pass with 3:37 left in the third. James added the extra point to make the score 14-14 with 15:00 to play.
 
The fourth quarter belonged to the Bobcats. Taking advantage of a fumble recovery, the visitors picked up a 29-yard Godley field goal to take a 17-14 lead with 12:22 left in the game. A 70-yard Al'Dreccous Wilson interception return for a score, and Godley's PAT, made it 24-14 with 6:30 to go. Godley then added the final points of the game on a 28-yard field goal with 2:44 left.
 
After the game, Southwest head coach Tucker Peavey expressed pleasure with his defense as well as disappointment in his offense. "We played good defense all night, I thought," Peavey said. "Offensively, we can't function. Until we do something where we execute some things that we've got called, and some things that are there, we're going to have this all the time because the defense just can't hold up all night. We've got to pull a little weight on offense."
 
Referring to previous comments about the Bears' need to eliminate unforced errors in games, Peavey said, "Obviously, the interception for a touchdown was a big one (tonight) and (we had) some other missed assignments. (But) we were better at that this week, overall, as far as the number of them."
 
The Bears picked up 188 yards rushing in the game. Justin Blue led the way with 94 yards on 12 carries while LaDarion Peterson had 77 yards on 11 carries. Shell had a one-yard scoring run.
 
Shell completed 11 of 21 passes on the night for 72 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once. Pierce led the Bears' receiving corps with four catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Bears were limited to nine first downs in the game, eight coming via the ground game, and were penalized six times for 61 yards. Brandon Mancuso punted eight times for 38.1 yards.
 
The Bobcats totaled 407 yards of offense. Jarkice Davis led the way with 119 yards on 16 carries with Cowan and Moore both scoring a touchdown.
Thad Miller completed 21 of 39 passes for 180 yards.
 
The Bobcat s registered 24 first downs in the game and were penalized six times for 40 yards.
 
The Bears return to action on September 17 when they face their arch-rivals, the top-ranked Co-Lin Wolves. Kickoff is set for 7:00 at Stone Stadium in Wesson.