Host Northeast Tigers defeat Bears

By: Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information

jucoweekly.org

Football | 9/21/2017 11:13:00 PM

Battling the elements as well as their opponents, the Bears saw a first-quarter lead go by the wayside Thursday night as they dropped a 36-19 non-division contest to the Northeast Mississippi Tigers in Booneville.

The Tigers took a 7-0 lead with 9:09 on the first-quarter clock when Zykeris Mosley capped a 10-play, 64-yard drive with a 10-yard run to pay dirt. Will Lang kicked the extra point.

A 32-yard scamper into the end zone by Chase Hughes closed out a six-play, 77-yard march by the Bears. Gunar Robinson booted the extra point to knot the score at 7-7 with 6:50 left in the quarter.

Forcing the Tigers to punt on their next possession, the Bears took over on the hosts' 16-yard line following a 63-yard Anthony Jones return. Two plays later,
Nakia Trotter, Jr.., toted the ball into the end zone from 12-yards out, with 4:09 on the clock, to put the Bears on top 13-7, at the end of the quarter. The extra point attempt was no good.

The lead changed hands three times in the second quarter. With 14:38 on the clock, the Tigers' Dazion Kincaid returned a punt 82 yards for a score. Lang added the extra point to put the home team ahead 14-13.

The Tigers' lead did not last long as Neil McLaurin returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a Bears' touchdown. The unsuccessful extra point left the Bears (0-4) on top 19-14 with 14:13 left before halftime.

The weather then came into play as lightning forced the teams back into their locker rooms for over 40 minutes.

After play resumed, the Tigers (1-3) regained the lead when Desmond Hunter connected with Toreano Miner for a 52-yard touchdown pass with 11:47 showing on the clock. Lang's extra point kick ended the first-half scoring and left the home team with a 21-19 lead.

The Tigers scored the only points in the second half, getting a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, a safety and interception return for a score in the fourth to secure the win.

"I don't know if it anything to do with the lightning," Bears' head coach Tucker Peavey said of the turnaround in his team's fortunes. "I think it was about us (not) executing in bad conditions. The field was the same, the rain was the same (for both teams). It was just about us coming out and not being able to execute."

"Evidently they raised their game and we didn't," Peavey continued. "They were able to run the ball and were kind of having to do both. Whenever you give away 14 points on special teams that hurts you as well and I think that's what we did on the night. Then we had the two extra point snaps that were fumbled. When you do those kind of things you're just not going to win."

Hughes led the Bears' ground game with 45 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Trotter, Jr., toted the ball eight times for 18 yards and a score. Juwan Adams completed nine of 24 passes for 110 yards with one interception. McLaurin caught a pair of passes for 40 yards.

The Bears recorded 12 first downs in the game and were penalized seven times for 73 yards. Robinson punted seven times for 32.1 yards.

Kenzie Phillips led the Tigers' offense with 113 yards on 24 carries. Karleke Oliver and Mosley both had rushing touchdowns.

Hunter made good on five of 11 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Miner caught two passes for 67 yards and a touchdown.

The Tigers had 14 first downs on the night and were whistled for 72 yards on seven penalties. Beau Lee punted eight times for 37.4 yards.

The Bears return to John I. Hurst Stadium for their next contest as they host the Jones County Bobcats on September 28. Kickoff is set for 7:00.

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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Host Northeast Tigers defeat Bears