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Neil McLaurin
jucoweekly.org

Football Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information

Bears to make home debut against Hinds

Game Day Report

Looking to get back into the win column, the Bears make their home debut Thursday night when they host the Eagles of Hinds Community College.
 
The Bears enter the contest at 1-1 after last week's 34-20 loss at Holmes. The Eagles come in at 0-2 following a 45-20 home loss to #11 Itawamba.
 
Despite putting 20 points on the board and totaling over 337 yards, the Bears' offense struggled somewhat, throwing three interceptions and picking up crucial penalties.
 
Asked if fans could expect to see any changes in the offense this week, head coach Tucker Peavey said "Hopefully we do (see changes). We moved the ball up and down the field (at Holmes), got 21 first downs and just didn't get the ball in the end zone. So, the emphasis is to finish the drive and eliminate the penalties that get you behind the chains and score points. That's the ultimate objective of the offense."
 
Hinds gave up 531 yards of offense versus Itawamba with 365 of that coming via the passing game. Should the Bears be expected to throw the ball more against the Eagles? "We'd love to," said Peavey, "but, we've got to protect, we've got to run the right routes and throw and catch the ball. Itawamba hit some big passes against (Hinds) and hopefully we can see those things and make the connection. But, at the end of the day, we've got to do what we do and do it well enough to where we get the ball in the end zone."
 
Peavey consistently names avoiding turnovers as one of the keys to a win and this week is no different. "Certainly we've got to do that (avoid turnovers) to see some improvement because that's another one of those drive-killers. You lose possession of the ball whenever you do that (turn it over) and ultimately you didn't get in the end zone on that drive. So, I think that's certainly one of the things we've got to get better at."
 
The Eagles recorded 337 yards of offense in their loss to Itawamba with 217 coming through the air and 120 on the ground. Will the Bears maintain the status quo and try to stop both aspects of their opponent's game?
 
"I think you definitely have to be focused on both aspects of the game," said Bears' defensive coordinator Kelby Bowman, "because if you (focus on only one) the other will hurt you."
 
"Our focus has to be on stopping the run first," Bowman said. "Every time you step on the field, if you can't stop the run then you're going to be in trouble. On the other hand, Hinds is a good spread team. They have the ability to put four or five good receivers out there and throw the ball. So, we have to be prepared for the pass, too."
 
"They have a good backfield," Bowman said of running backs DeVante Scott (5' 11", 185-Kemper County High School) and Bubba King (5' 11", 190-Central Hinds Academy) (and) they have one of the fastest kids in the state (wide receiver DeMichael Harris-5' 10", 175-St. Aloysius) who, at any time, can get the football. They also have a quarterback (Micah Zanders-6' 1", 195-Jacksonville, FL) who's very athletic and can throw the ball. So, just covering all the bases of run and pass, we have to be fundamentally sound, as always, and just play to the best of our ability."
 
One of the Bears' primary focuses on defense will be wide receiver Stephen Guidry (6' 4", 185-Livonia, LA) who had seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown last week. "You have to focus on all of them," Bowman said of the Hinds receivers, "but, we definitely have to know where number seven (Guidry) is. He's a kid who, if he keeps on track with what he's doing, you'll see on Sundays."
 
"I think our kids are excited," Bowman concluded, "with it being the first home game so I look forward to it being a good football game and, defensively, we just have to be sound."
 
The game is set for a 7:00 kickoff at John I. Hurst Stadium. It can be heard on the radio on WAKH 105.7FM (k106), on the internet at southwestbearathletics.com and k106.net and on smartphones (download the k106 app).
 
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