Bears lose momentum late, come up short against Pearl River during Homecoming

In the final regular season home game of the season, it was a combination of penalties and missed opportunities that cost the Bears in the end as they fell 31-21 to the Pearl River Wildcats on Homecoming and Sophomore Day.

"It was self-inflicted wounds and you can't win football games like that," Southwest head coach Cliff Collins said. "I told the guys you need to go in and re-evaluate yourself. The penalties hurt us."

The Bears (2-6, 1-5) committed 14 penalties on the night for 158 yards. In addition they had difficulty slowing down the Wildcat rushing attack, who racked-up 169 yards on the ground.

Southwest was unable to make the early statement on defense as the Wildcats scored on the first possession of the game. Marquis McCoy hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Lawson Pratt and with the Michael Owens extra point Southwest trailed 7-0.

The deficit did not last long, however, as the Bears answered right back. Jacoby Bellazar took the kickoff down to the Pearl River 40 yard line setting the Bears up with great field position. From there, a 5-play drive culminated with a five-yard touchdown run by Damuriyon Montgomery. Tres Ladner connected on the extra point tying the game at 7.

With the momentum on their sides, the Bear defense used it to their advantage, getting a turnover as Demarcus McGilberry pounced on a Pratt fumble, giving the hosts the ball back at midfield.

Unfortunately though, the Bears could not capitalize and was forced to punt.

The Bear defense stepped up once again in the second quarter, as this time it was Martavius Evans ripping the ball away from Wildcat rusher Nick Milsap, halting a threat by the visitors who moved the ball down into the red zone.

The momentum didn't last long as the Bears once again were unable to capitalize following the turnover and was forced to punt.

Just two plays into the ensuing drive a third fumble was caused by the Bear defense as Javier Simmons knocked the ball from the grasp of Shadamien Williamson before Buddy Felder pounced on it giving possession back to the Bears.

And in an unfortunate act of déjà vu, the Bears could not produce any points following the takeaway.

Following another Southwest punt, Pearl River marched down the field before breaking the 7-7 tie as Pratt tossed his second touchdown of the night, this time to Antonio Gayden from 14 yards out putting the Bears down 14-7 late in the first half.

After both teams traded punts to open the third quarter, the Bears pulled even once again, and in dramatic fashion. Cameron Davis — who entered the game at quarterback for and injured Chris Roberson — tossed a 59-yard touchdown to Bellazar on the first play of the drive. Ladner added the extra point making it a 14-14 game.

The Bears regained possession following a Wildcat punt and put together a promising drive. Davis led the Bears down to the Pearl River 31 yard line but Southwest came up just short on a 4^th-and-short giving the ball back to the visitors.

Pearl River responded with a 14-play drive before taking a 17-14 lead following a 26-yard Michael Owens field goal.

During the drive, there was a scary scene as Simmons suffered what Coach Collins later said was a broken tibia. Simmons remained down for several minutes while being tended to by trainers before being stretchered off the field.

"I hate to see any young man who goes off on a stretcher and he was hurt," Collins said. "He is a guy who does everything that I ask him to do and shows up to work each and every day."

Both teams once again traded punts before the Bears took their first lead of the game on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Jeremiah Ratliff followed by a successful extra point by Ladner.

With Southwest up 21-17 with just over 8:00 to go, the Bears were hoping to use the momentum built to maintain that lead but multiple penalties on the ensuing drive hurt Southwest as Pearl River took advantage before scoring on a 3-yard run by Milsap. With the extra point, the Bears trailed 24-21 with 3:17 to go.

Hoping for one last push to re-take the lead, the Bears fell behind further after a pick-6 made the score the eventual final.

Davis finished with 191 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. On the ground, Montgomery had 69 yards and a score while Bellazar hauled-in three passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Ratliff had three catches for 77 yards and a score.

Defensively, Hunter Lee led the way with 12 tackles. James Gardner and Jameer Lewis both had two tackles and sack apiece.

The Bears wrap the regular season Thursday at Holmes. Kickoff from Goodman is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Bears lose momentum late, come up short against Pearl River during Homecoming