No. 5 MGCCC ready for post-season

MGCCC head coach Steve Campbell (foreground) is 6-2 in the post-season while at Gulf Coast.

Bulldogs to tangle with Coahoma Saturday

PERKINSTON, Ms.---Being the No. 1 seed from the South is nothing new for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The Bulldogs (9-1) are the three-time defending MACJC South Division Champions and on this Saturday the team begins its quest for a third straight MACJC State Title.

Standing in the way is Coahoma, the No. 2 seed from the North that’s making its first trip to the post-season in college history. The 6-3 Tigers want to pull a nasty trick on Halloween and treat the Bulldog fans to a huge upset. “It’s good to be playing at home,” said Gulf Coast head coach Steve Campbell. “Coahoma’s going to be excited. We know we’ll have our work cut out for us but we’re glad to be at home.”

The Bulldogs enter the 2009 post-season at No. 5 in the latest NJCAA poll and sport the Nation’s second ranked rushing attack (311 yards per game) led by sophomore running back Vick Ballard. The Pascagoula native and Miss. State commitment racked up 1,354 yards (No. 1 in the NJCAA) and 17 touchdowns (a new Gulf Coast record) during the 2009 regular season. He’s 60 yards away from breaking the Gulf Coast all-time season rushing mark of 1,413 set by Dantrell Savage in 2005. On defense, the Bulldogs are +11 in turnover margin and are coming off a season-best performance in a 20-17 win at Jones Oct. 24.

“It helps having great players,” Campbell added. “Ballard is one of many on this team. We’ve had a lot of guys step up and make plays this season.”

Coahoma comes in riding a three-game winning streak which began with a 41-36 upset of then-ranked Northwest. The Tigers offense is led by quarterback Garrick Jones (13 TD passes in 2009), running back Katrel James (687 yds. Rushing, 6 TD’S in 2009), and a defense that’s +7 in turnover margin.

The Coahoma Gulf Coast winner faces the Jones/East Mississippi winner Nov. 7 for the MACJC State Title and a trip to the Mississippi Bowl Dec. 6 in Biloxi.

Bulldog fans can catch all the action via streaming video at www.mgcccbulldogs.com . Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at A.L May Memorial Stadium.