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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears fall to 17th-ranked Gulf Coast

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Anthony Jones
jucoweekly.org

Football | 10/12/2017 11:31:00 PM

The 17th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs proved themselves worthy of their national ranking Thursday night as they overwhelmed the Bears 52-13 in an MACJC South Division matchup in Perkinston.
 
The Bulldogs (5-2, 3-1) held a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. A nine-yard touchdown run by quarterback Larry Sisson, and the first of seven Mason Hunt PAT's, left them on top 7-0 with 7:55 on the clock.
 
Taking possession of the ball on their own 35-yard line after the ensuing kickoff, the Bears needed only five plays to get on the scoreboard. Juwan Adams capped the march by tossing a 40-yard scoring strike to Julius Faulk, Jr.., with 5:20 on the clock. The PAT was blocked, leaving the Bears trailing 7-6.
 
An eight-play, 79-yard drive, culminated in a 16-yard touchdown run by Deandre Torrey with 2:08 on the clock. Hunt's PAT ended the first-quarter scoring.
 
The Bulldogs scored the only points of the second quarter, on a three-yard run by Terrion Avery, plus Hunt's PAT, with 3:56 on the clock to move out to a 21-6 lead at 5-intermission.
 
A 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, along with Hunt's PAT, left the Bulldogs with a 28-6 lead with 14:46 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Bears (0-7, 0-4) needed only 1:46 to reply to the Bulldogs' score with one of their own. Neil McLaurin fired a 33-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Jones with 13:00 on the clock. Gunar Robinson booted the PAT to leave the Bears trailing 28-13.
 
The Bulldogs went on to add two more touchdowns, and a 27-yard Hunt field goal, to take a 45-13 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
A one-yard dive into the end zone by Antjuan Rogers, plus Hunt's PAT, ended with scoring with 5:56 left in the game to give the Bulldogs their final margin of victory.
 
After the game, Bears head man Tucker Peavey said the Bulldogs' kickoff return to open the second half "was huge". Continuing with his post-game comments, Peavey said the Bulldogs' "strength is where we're struggling right now and that's losing guys up front on defense. Offensively, when Juwan got hurt again, Neil came in and did a great job with limited reps in practice. We'll have to evaluate that and see where we are." Adams was injured in the first quarter and did not play in the second half.
 
"I've got to compliment the guys," Peavey continued. "They play hard. Sometimes we don't make the play, but the effort's there. As long as they keep swinging, we'll keep going to work."
 
McLaurin led the Bears running game with 91 yards on 12 carries. Chase Hughes carried the ball 14 times for 58 yards.
 
Adams, McLaurin and Brady Anderson combined to complete 9 of 18 passes for 112 yards. Adams and McLaurin both threw a touchdown pass while Anderson had one pass picked off.
 
The Bears recorded 10 first downs in the game and were penalized four times for 35 yards. Robinson punted four times for a 41.8 yard average while
Casey Griffith had three punts for 32.3 yards.
 
Torrey topped the Bulldogs' offense with 224 yards, and a touchdown, on 28 carries. Avery carried the ball 14 times for 64 yards and a score. Sisson completed four of eight passes for 57 with one interception.
 
The Bulldogs had 18 first downs on the night and had three penalties for 30 yards. Hunt punted twice for 41.5 yards.
 
The Bears play their final home game of the season on October 19 when they host arch-rival Co-Lin. Kickoff at John I. Hurst Stadium is set for 6:30.
 
 
 
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