In his final home game as a Southwest Bear, sophomore running back Chris Hunter made a statement. The Canton Academy-alum had 27 carries for 180 yards and three touchdowns helping the Bears defeat Jones 26-23 Saturday on Homecoming.

Of Hunters' three scores, the final was the biggest as it was the eventual game-winner coming with just :24 to go.

"Staying low and getting in the end zone, giving 100-percent was all I could do to get into that end zone," said Hunter who set new season-highs in yards and touchdowns in the victory.

Saturday's win marks the third for first-year head coach Les George who said afterward that he was very proud of the effort his team put forward.

"It goes to these players," he said. "This is a team that is very resilient, very unselfish. It has been a rough year and we lost some games that we felt like as a team we should have won. But these guys just continue to work, continue to focus on fixing the mistakes. I'm very proud of their efforts and very proud of the coaching staff too."

Early on, the Bears (3-5, 2-3 MACCC South) unfortunately lost a fumble on their second drive, giving the Bobcats momentum and the ball deep in Southwest territory. Jones took advantage of this scoring on the ensuing drive on a short touchdown run putting Southwest down 7-0.

After both teams traded punts, the Bears got on the board on the following possession. Hunter scored the first of his three touchdowns as he sliced through the Bobcat defense and into the end zone from 54 yards out. Sergio Neyra added the PAT tying the score at 7 with 12:22 to go until halftime.

Just before the half, the Bears took their first lead of the evening as Neyra connected on a 42-yard field goal giving Southwest a 10-7 advantage.

Following a short Jones drive early in the third quarter that ended in a punt, the Bears took over and kept the momentum on the home side. Hunter kicked off the drive from the Bear 44 with a short run before Silas Corder hooked up with Jac Comeaux on a beautiful 40-yard reception setting the Bears up at the Bobcat 11-yard line. Two plays later, Hunter found the end zone from three yards out giving Southwest a 10-point lead at 17-7.

Later in the quarter, Jones cut into the Southwest lead with a 20-yard touchdown run before drawing even closer on its next drive with a 30-yard field goal.

The resurgence by the visitors carried over into the fourth quarter as Jones took the lead back following a short touchdown run with 13:45 to go. The extra point, however, was blocked before the ball was scooped up by Gary Bailey and returned 97 yards all the way to the south end zone at John I. Hurst Stadium giving the Bears two points, making it a 23-19 game.

A big defensive stop by Southwest with under 3:00 to go gave the Bears the ball back as they looked for the go-ahead score.

Corder and the Bears manufactured a 7-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that ended with Hunter's third score of the night in the final minute of play.

The Bobcats rallied late and drove down tot the Southwest 32 with just :03 on the clock, but a game-tying 50-yard field goal attempt fell short as the victorious Bears burst into excitement.

Southwest racked-up 361 yards of total offense with 192 of those coming on the ground. George gave praise to his offensive line after the game.   

Once again, BJ Mitchell led the Bears in tackling with 11 while Skylar Husband also shined with eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass break up.

The Bears wrap up the 2025 campaign on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Decatur against East Central.