Bears win a thriller at Pearl River, 31-27

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information

Matt Bush/Jucoweekly.org

Football | 9/25/2015 8:27:00 AM

A Justin Blue one-yard touchdown run and Reed James ' PAT with 0:15 left capped a wild fourth quarter and provided the winning margin Thursday night as the Southwest Bears picked up a much-needed victory, 31-27, over the Pearl River Wildcats in Poplarville.

The win moved the Bears to 2-3 on the season and 1-2 in the MACJC South Division. Pearl River dropped to 1-4 and 0-3.

The Bears held a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. After allowing a 45-yard Brennan O'Keefe field goal with 11:09 on the clock, the Bears answered with an eight-play, 63-yard drive and took the lead on LaDarion Peterson's six-yard scamper into the end zone with 7:47 left in the quarter. James kicked the extra point.

The Bears took a 10-3 lead on their opening possession of the second quarter when James notched a 25-yard field goal, with 8:43 left before the half, to close out a 10-play, 77-yard march. The home standing Wildcats then responded with a seven-play, 53-yard drive, that left the game tied at 10-10 at intermission, on Darious Leggett's two yard scoring run and O'Keefe's extra point kick with 4:55 on the clock.

Facing a third and 10 from their own 35-yard line, the Bears scored the only points of the third quarter, and took a 17-10 lead, when Casey Haygood found Shuntez Smith on the receiving end of a 65-yard touchdown pass with 9:59 on the clock and James added the PAT.

In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats narrowed their deficit to 17-13 when O'Keefe nailed a 20-yard field goal with 14:55 left.

A 29-yard Jeffrey Pate interception return set up the Bears' next touchdown. Taking over the ball at the Wildcats' one-yard line, the Bears moved out to a seemingly comfortable 24-13 lead when Blue picked up the first of his two touchdowns, and James notched the extra point, with 11:20 to play.

Momentum quickly switched sides on the ensuing kickoff, however, as Tarvarious Moore took the ball and raced 100 yards to the Bears' end zone for a touchdown with 11:06 remaining. O'Keefe kicked the extra point to cut the Bears' lead to 24-20.

After forcing a pair of punts, the Wildcats took their final lead of the night when quarterback Mac Lowrie outran all defenders for a 15-yard touchdown to close out a nine-play, 70-yard drive. O'Keefe added the extra point to put the home team on top 27-24 with 5:41 left.

Two possessions later, aided by an 11-yard punt, the Bears took over the ball at the Wildcats' 33-yard line with 2:44 on the clock and scored the winning points nine-plays and 2:29 later.

The Wildcats did not go quietly, however, as they took the kickoff and quickly moved from their own 28-yard line to the Bears' 34. But, the threat was ended when Lowrie was sacked as time expired and the Bears escaped with the win.

When told the win seemed a textbook example of winning ugly and that it came despite the Bears' best efforts to hurt themselves, head coach Tucker Peavey said, "In this league, I'm never going to say any win is ugly because they're too hard to come by. But, again (we had) too many unforced errors. We had two throws in the end zone in the first half that, if caught, are touchdowns. Of course, the special teams mistakes and the personal foul penalties (are) what I have a problem with. We've just got to see if we can find 11 people who are going to get out there and do it right."

Despite their mistakes, Peavey said he told the players after the game that "their effort is unbelievable. We play hard and that's a credit to them. As long as that's there, then we're always going to have a chance (to win)."

The Bears picked up 324 yards of offense in the game. Haygood led the way, completing 15 of 29 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. Ravian Pierce caught four passes for 42 yards while Smith had three catches for 91 yards and a score. Clifford Fernandez also had three receptions.

Blue carried the ball 18 times for 78 yards with two touchdowns while Peterson rushed 13 times for 51 yards and a score.

The Bears recorded 16 first downs in the game and were penalized seven times for 83 yards. Brandon Mancuso averaged 38.3 yard on four punts and James averaged 42 yards on two punts.

Lowrie topped the Wildcats' offense, completing 13 of 22 passes for 148 yards with one interception. He also had a rushing touchdown. Leggett ran the ball 26 times for 81 yards and a touchdown.

The Wildcats totaled 28 first downs on the night and were whistled for 60 yards on six penalties. Cody Mikell punted five times for 38.4 yards.

The Bears return home for their next contest, hosting Mississippi Gulf Coast on October 1 at 7:00. Gulf Coast, ranked 11^th in the current NJCAA poll, defeated Jones County 37-27 Thursday night.

As part of the night, the Bears will participate in the eighth annual "Coach to Cure MD" which seeks to raise awareness and money to fund research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most prolific lethal genetic disorder of childhood.

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Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#4 Shuntez Smith: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#6 Ravian Pierce: 6' 3"; Freshman

#14 Clifford Fernandez: 6' 5"; Sophomore

#15 Jeffrey Pate: 5' 9"; Sophomore

#16 Casey Haygood: 6' 4"; Freshman

#22 Justin Blue: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#34 Brandon Mancuso: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#36 Reed James: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#4 Shuntez Smith
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#6 Ravian Pierce
: 6' 3"; Freshman

#14 Clifford Fernandez
: 6' 5"; Sophomore

#15 Jeffrey Pate
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

#16 Casey Haygood
: 6' 4"; Freshman

#22 Justin Blue
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

#34 Brandon Mancuso
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

#36 Reed James
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Southwest Mississippi Community College

Scoreboard

Bears win a thriller at Pearl River, 31-27

Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson

#4 Shuntez Smith

#6 Ravian Pierce

#14 Clifford Fernandez

#15 Jeffrey Pate

#16 Casey Haygood

#22 Justin Blue

#34 Brandon Mancuso

#36 Reed James

Players Mentioned

#3 LaDarion Peterson

#4 Shuntez Smith

#6 Ravian Pierce

#14 Clifford Fernandez

#15 Jeffrey Pate

#16 Casey Haygood

#22 Justin Blue

#34 Brandon Mancuso

#36 Reed James