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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears drop 33-21 decision at #14 Jones County

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Casey Haygood
jucoweekly.org

Football | 9/30/2016 8:12:00 AM

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The Bears surrendered a four-point halftime lead Thursday night as they dropped a 33-21 MACJC South Division contest to the 14th-ranked Jones County Bobcats in Ellisville.
 
With the loss, the Bears fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the South. The Bobcats climbed to 4-1 and 1-1.
 
The Bobcats drew first blood as DeShawn Smith took the opening kickoff and raced 95 yards for a touchdown. Brady Farlow booted the extra point to put the hosts up 7-0 with 14:46 still to play in the opening quarter.
 
The Bears tied the score at 7-7 on their first possession of the game. Taking the ball at their own 26-yard line, the Bears moved down the field in just over 4:00, getting on the board on a one-yard Nakia Trotter, Jr.., touchdown run. Ruben Maldonado added the extra point.
 
A 36-yard dash into the end zone by Scott Phillips put the Bobcats back on top with 7:25 remaining on the clock. Farlow again added the extra point to make the score 14-7.
 
After forcing a turnover on downs, the Bears began the last scoring drive of the quarter at the Bobcats' 12-yard line. Neil McLaurin tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ravian Pierce to close out the short three-play series and Maldonado kicked the extra point to knot the score at 14-14 with 3:38 on the clock.
 
In the second quarter, a seven-play drive ended in a 49-yard Farlow field goal, with 9:16 left in the first half, to put the Bobcats back on top 17-14.
 
The Bears closed out the first-half scoring by answering the Bobcats' score with one of their own. This time, Mikel Anderson did the honors for the Bears with a one-yard dive into the end zone with 7:41 before the half. Maldonado booted the extra point that left the Bears ahead 21-17 at intermission.
 
Two touchdowns in the third quarter left the Bobcats with a 30-21 lead. Phillips ran the ball in from the three-yard line with 11:28 on the clock while Mason Blocker connected with Jeriko Morris for a 17-yard touchdown pass. Farlow was one of two on extra points.
 
The final points of the night came on a 29-yard Farlow field goal with 14:29 left in the game.
 
Asked if the Bears' loss to the Bobcats, and second-half struggles, were a result of being freshman-heavy, head coach Tucker Peavey said "I think it somewhat is, but I think the biggest issue is we don't have a lot of depth. When you throw some injuries in there, it really makes it hard to roll enough guys in and out of the game to be able to play four quarters."
 
"If you noticed," Peavey went on, "Jones was subbing the whole defensive front in and out in the second half." As a result, Peavey said, "We got fatigued and weren't playing as well. So, I think it's a combination of the two (inexperience and lack of depth)."
 
Despite the loss, Peavey said his squad was "playing hard. I don't think it's an effort issue. I think we missed some plays here and there that we need to make routine, but everybody does that. We've just got to keep swinging, we've got to keep battling and see if we can stay healthy enough to be able to take what subs we do have and get some guys rolling in there."
 
The Bears were held to 291 yards of offense. McLaurin led the way, completing 8 of 17 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once. Casey Haygood completed 9 of 14 passes for 75 yards. Pierce had 7 receptions for 55 yards with a touchdown.
 
Anderson led the Bears' ground game with 65 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
 
The Bears recorded 12 first downs in the game. They lost one of two fumbles and were penalized six times for 40 yards. Maldonado punted 10 times for 34.6 yards.
 
The Bobcats picked up 353 yards of offense. Phillips led the way with 187 yards, and two touchdowns, on 28 carries. Blocker completed 10 of 19 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Bobcats had 18 first downs in the game and were whistled for 94 yards on nine penalties. Farlow punted five times for 42.6 yards.
 
The Bears stay on the road for their next game as they travel to Poplarville on October 6 for a 6:00 matchup against the Pearl River Wildcats. Pearl River fell to Itawamba Thursday night, 51-34.
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Neil McLaurin

#1 Neil McLaurin

QB
6' 3"
Freshman
Nakia Trotter, Jr.

#3 Nakia Trotter, Jr.

RB
5' 8"
Freshman
Ravian Pierce

#6 Ravian Pierce

TE
6' 4"
Sophomore
Casey Haygood

#16 Casey Haygood

QB
6' 4"
Sophomore
Mikel Anderson

#28 Mikel Anderson

RB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Ruben Maldonado

#43 Ruben Maldonado

P
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Neil McLaurin

#1 Neil McLaurin

6' 3"
Freshman
QB
Nakia Trotter, Jr.

#3 Nakia Trotter, Jr.

5' 8"
Freshman
RB
Ravian Pierce

#6 Ravian Pierce

6' 4"
Sophomore
TE
Casey Haygood

#16 Casey Haygood

6' 4"
Sophomore
QB
Mikel Anderson

#28 Mikel Anderson

5' 9"
Sophomore
RB
Ruben Maldonado

#43 Ruben Maldonado

6' 1"
Freshman
P