Last week's game was a heart-breaker for the Bears. After storming back and erasing a 28-7 deficit to force overtime, Southwest came up just short in the extra period, falling 34-28 at Hinds.
 
This week, however, the Bears hope to right the ship at home on Saturday as No. 5 Jones comes to town for Homecoming 2023.
 
"We had a good week of practice," Southwest head coach Cliff Collins said. "They understand that sometimes the scoreboard doesn't dictate the losses. If you gave everything you possibly can, that is all that you can do. I understood that and our game is determined by scores and our score wasn't higher than theirs and they won the football game."
 
Saturday's game marks the first for the Bobcats in Summit since 2020 when Southwest was on the short end of a hard-fought 40-27 decision. It is also the first time that a Collins team has hosted Jones.
 
Going into the game, Collins knows that his team can compete with a tough squad like the Bobcats adding that anybody is capable of being defeated in the league, especially this season.
 
"We haven't played down to a good opponent yet," Collins said. "That is what I see in this program. Normally we get schools that have established programs and have winning traditions. They come out and we don't play good. That hasn't been the case this year. All of the top-ranked teams from Gulf Coast, Co-Lin and now we get Jones…we have risen up to the challenge and that is what it is all about."
 
The Bobcats present a tough challenge led by their rushing attack. Sophomores Trent Howell, Trent Davis and Omar Johnson have each rushed at least 53 times with all averaging 3.9 yards per rush or greater. Scoring-wise, Howell leads the bunch with 5 touchdowns. Davis also poses as a threat as a pass catcher out of the backfield as his 14 receptions on the year ranks second behind receiver Houston Johnson who has 17.
 
Southwest quarterback Amarien Jefferson has had a productive season thus far as the signal caller passing for 670 yards and three touchdowns after stepping in to the role due to injuries to Jordan Mills and Quez Goss.
 
A trio of players who have helped make the transition a bit easier are receivers Tyler Daniels, Jeremiah Ratliff and leading receiver Tavaris Henshaw who have all elevated their game as of late.
 
Another trio who has shined for the Bears as of late has come on the other side of the ball. Defensive backs Javier Simmons and Dante Thomas have racked-up several tackles along with leading tackler, linebacker Ethan Williams who has 36.
 
In addition to the festivities that come with homecoming week, the Bears also had a couple of extra days to rest up and prepare for the Bobcats. Despite this Collins said that the prepartation format hasn't changed.
 
"It's (honestly) no different but a little bit longer," he said. "We took a few breaks but still got our work in."
 
The Bears and the Bobcats kick off Saturday at 5 p.m. at John I. Hurst Stadium.