#14 Jones outguns #1 MGCCC 52-42
PERKINSTON---It was déjà vu for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College…and not in a good way.
For the second straight year, Jones was ranked #14, the Bulldogs were #1, and the Bobcats walked away with a victory, this time a 52-42 decision.
"We made way too many mistakes --- it was a total team deal," said Gulf Coast head coach Steve Campbell, who's now 8-3 all-time against Jones. "We didn't play well enough on either side, or even on special teams. We turned it over a couple of times and gave up too many big plays. It was a perfect recipe for not being successful."
Jones (4-0, 2-0) used an offense paced by quarterback Steve Swindle's 20-37, 398 yard, 4 touchdown performance, a defense that forced two Bulldog turnovers that both led to points, and a special teams gaffe by Gulf Coast to earn the win.
After a back-and-forth first half that ended with the Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1) in front 28-21, Jones turned a Gulf Coast fumble into an 81-yard TD strike from Swindle to JaMichael Willis making it 28-28. Willis had nine catches for 225 yards and 2 scores in the contest. Later in the third quarter, a bad snap on a punt attempt led to a 38-yard field goal by Jones kicker Grant McLaurin and a 31-28 Bobcat lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Gulf Coast responded with a 1-yard TD run by Antwon Wells to take a 35-31 lead with 13:26 left to play. Wells rushed 109 yards and two TD'S on 22 attempts.
Jones answered with a 1-yard TD run by back-up quarterback Quay Boyd to regain the lead 38-35, then added to the margin when an intercepted pass led to a 30-yard TD pass from Swindle to Dylan Bossier making it 45-35 midway through the fourth quarter. Gulf Coast got as close as 45-42 when quarterback Colton Kane scored on a 1-yard run with 4:55 left. Kane saw his first game action since the season opener against Coahoma and went 20 of 41 for 217 yards, 3 TD'S and 1 interception.
(Left Photo): MGCCC'S Tony Bridges (#3) returns a punt vs. Jones Sept. 19.
Jones sealed the victory by taking the ensuing kickoff and scoring on a 36-yard TD pass from Swindle to Willis with 3:03 left. A last-ditch effort by Gulf Coast to cut into the 10-point deficit failed when freshman kicker Tristan Reynolds missed from 39 yards out with 1:55 left.
On offense, Gulf Coast saw NJCAA All-American wide receiver Dhaquille Williams haul in 11 passes for 133 yards and three first half scores. Justin Brister rushed for 66 yards on 11 carries and Ishmel Morrow tallied 61 total yards rushing and receiving. The Bulldog defense also forced two turnovers and had two sacks in the loss.
"None of us played well enough to win," Campbell added.
The Bulldogs will regroup and get back on the winning track next Thursday at Northeast.
