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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Bears end 2017 with dramatic win at East Central

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information
Juwan Adams (with ball), Chase Hughes
jucoweekly.org

Football | 10/26/2017 11:39:00 PM

Wiping away a season's worth of frustration, the Bears closed out the 2017 season in dramatic fashion Thursday night, overcoming an early deficit to defeat the host East Central Warriors 38-34.
 
Both teams ended the year with 1-8 overall records, The Bears finished 1-5 in the MACJC's South Division while East Central finished 0-6.
 
Things looked bleak for the Bears in the early going as the Warriors exploded out to a 14-0 lead with 13:38 still to play in the first quarter.
 
The Bears got on the board, and closed the gap to 14-7, when quarterback Juwan Adams capped a nine-play, 65-yard march with a one-yard dive into the end zone with 8:05 on the clock. Gunar Robinson booted the PAT to end the first quarter scoring.
 
A 39-yard run by Kevontaye Caston and Zach Engell's PAT extended the Warriors' lead to 21-7 with 14:50 left in the second quarter.
 
Taking possession of the ball on their own 15-yard line after the ensuing kickoff, the Bears needed eight plays to reach the end zone. Chase Hughes did the honors on a short two-yard dash. Robinson added the PAT to make the score 21-14 with 10:40 on the clock.
 
The Warriors took a 28-14 lead into the locker room at halftime after Mario Asangula found Nigel Wood on the receiving end of an eight-yard scoring pass with 0:03 on the clock. Engell added the PAT.
 
Two dramatic touchdowns, along with PAT's from Robinson, allowed the Bears to knot the game at 28-28 in the third quarter. Pier'e Jones intercepted an Asangula pass at the Bears' 15-yard line and outraced the Warriors 75 yards to the end zone with 2:04 on the clock.
 
Following a Warriors punt, the Bears then found themselves pinned down on their own one-yard line with time running down in the quarter. Faced with a 3rd and 10 from the one after a pair of incomplete passes, Adams then tossed a short past to Neil McLaurin. McLaurin then eluded all defenders and raced 99 yards for a touchdown.
 
The Warriors regained the lead with 10:40 left in the game when Asangula capped a six-play, 43-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Deloach with 10:40 left in the game. Engell's PAT was wide right, leaving the Warriors with a 34-28 advantage.
 
But, the Bears would not be denied this night. With 7:25 remaining, Robinson closed out a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a 35-yard field goal to leave the Bears down 34-31.
 
Then, with 5:59 left in the game, a Jalon Thigpen fumble recovery gave the Bears possession of the ball on the Warriors' 43-yard line. Six plays later, Adams and McLaurin connected again, this time for a 30-yard score, with 3:57 on the clock. Robinson added the PAT to give the Bears the lead for the first time, an advantage they would not relinquish.
 
The Bears' defense then provided the last bit of drama. With the Warriors looking at a 1st and goal at the 10-yard line, the Bears' would yield only two additional yards on four plays before forcing the Warriors' to turn the ball over on downs with only 1:20 to play and sealing the win.

"I've been proud of them all year," said Bears' head coach Tucker Peavey. "I don't think people realize the impact all this stuff has had on guys" he said, in reference to the multiple injuries and other adversities the Bears faced this season. "It makes it to where it can be hard to overcome, mentally."

"Yeah, we've had some down times," Peavey continued, "But, they've continued to fight through it and I'm happy for them (his players) that we were able to come out on top. It was a game that was kind of like our season-back and forth, back and forth (with) bad things happening. But, they kept fighting, they kept clawing and I'm just happy for these kids."

Adams completed 15 of 27 passes for 259 yards, with a pair of touchdowns, to pace the Bears' offense. McLaurin caught nine of Adams' passes for 208 yards and both touchdowns.

On the ground, Adams led the way with 52 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Hughes carried the ball 16 times for 33 yards and a score.

The Bears had 13 first downs in the game and were penalized five times for 50 yards. Casey Griffith punted four times for 34.2 yards.

Asangula completed 19 of 35 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Warriors' offense. He had one pass picked off.
 
Wood had four catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Antoine Gibson had four receptions for 69 yards and a score while Deloach had 36 yards and a score on three r
receptions.

The Warriors recorded 23 first downs on the night and had 13 penalties for 110 yards. Drake Pace punted three times for 34.7 yards.
 
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