Bears to host Pearl River for homecoming, kickoff moved to 11 A. M.

The Bears look to give their fans something to talk about on Saturday when they conclude Homecoming festivities with a matchup against MACJC South Division foe Pearl River. But, they know they will have their work cut out for them.

The Bears enter the contest 0-5 (0-2 South) following last week's 61-20 loss to Jones County while Pearl River comes in at 2-3 (1-1 South) after a 38-26 loss to Itawamba.

Bears' head man Tucker Peavey knows a win will not come easy against the Wildcats because "they're a balanced football team, run and pass. "Defensively, they give you a lot of looks up front and a lot of blitzes so I think they'll bring pressure and play aggressively. They play hard and are a good, solid football team."

What are Peavey's keys to a win for the Bears? "If they're going to score," he said, "we've got to make them score on offense and make them do it with field goals. We've got to eliminate turnovers and putting the defense in bad field position and just play sound football."

With the season going the way it has, how are Peavey and his staff keeping the players motivated? "I think the competitor is them is what has to do that. We're still going to work hard and we're still going to do everything we can to prepare and practice well. I have to give it to them because they've been good on that end."

The Wildcats come into the game holding opponents to just over 308 yards per game (174.8 in the air and 133.6 on the ground). For the Bears to be successful, offensive coordinator Cam Achord said "the biggest thing for us this week is just holding on to the football and not giving it away to them. We had some sustained drives last week when we did what we're supposed to go."

Achord said the Wildcats have "a good defense. They've obviously put together a little variety in what they're going to do. So, we're going to have to put together a good game plan going in. I think, as always, we've got to establish the run early this week so that will allow us to open up some of the passing game."

The Bears' defense will have its hands full with the when they're on the field. The Wildcats are totaling just over 450 yards on offense. They have three running backs that have combined for over 1, 100 yards and 11 touchdowns and a pair of quarterbacks who have thrown for 945 yards and eight scores.

"I think we've got to stick to our fundamentals," defensive coordinator Kelby Bowman stated when discussing his game plan. "Our kids have to understand that every time you play on any given Thursday or Saturday that your fundamentals are what's going to give you your success."

"Pearl River is going to throw a lot of different formations and a lot of different motions (at us)," Bowman continued, "but, it's nothing we haven't seen. It'll probably be the most different formations we've seen from one team, but we've seen them all this year in some form or fashion. Our thing right now is just to make sure we're getting lined up properly and make sure each individual does his job and I think we should be ok."

Due to the approach of Tropical Storm Nate, kickoff for the game has been moved to 11:00 A. M. at John I. Hurst Stadium. The game can he heard on WAZA 107.7 FM, wazafm.com and southwestbearathletics.com.

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Bears to host Pearl River for homecoming, kickoff moved to 11 A. M.