Gulf Coast starts South play against Co-Lin

PERKINSTON — Chad Huff's Mississippi Gulf Coast football team is looking at the rough first two weeks of the season as an opportunity to learn.

More importantly, the Bulldogs want to apply those lessons against No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln as they kick off MACJC South Division play. Kickoff on University of Southern Mississippi Night at newly renovated A.L. May Memorial Stadium is at 7 p.m. Thursday.

"We're 0-0 in the South. We have everything in front us," he said. "We need to learn from our mistakes the first two games and put those games behind us. Let's be a better football team because of those games."

Gulf Coast (0-2) is the defending South Division champion but is coming off losses to No. 10 Itawamba and No. 14 East Mississippi. Co-Lin (2-0) has beaten Mississippi Delta and Coahoma by a combined score of 70-6.

The Wolves have also beaten the Bulldogs the last two times they've met.

"They know the battles we've had," Huff said. "Two years ago, the kickoff return with less than a minute to go in the game and last year an overtime. Both those games could have easily gone our way, but they went Co-Lin's ways. The kids know what's at stake."

He is expecting physical Co-Lin fronts on both sides of the ball. They have an Iowa State transfer in quarterback Dominic DeLira, and a pair of wide receiver who have Oregon State ties. Datrin Guyton transferred from that school, and Tyson Penn was an OSU signee.

 "They are very talented on the D-line," Huff said. "They've got five or six guys with D-I offers, SEC, BCS-type players."

Linebacker Michael Graham was named MACJC Defensive Player of the Week after the Coahoma game. He had seven tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. Graham also nabbed an interception.

Gulf Coast will try to build off a promising first half against East Mississippi. The Bulldogs trailed 14-7, but had two red-zone turnovers.

"We played Gulf Coast football for two quarters," Huff said. "It wasn't perfect, but we were playing up to speed with East. We had chances to be ahead in that football game."

The team has focused on resiliency and finishing this week. A bad break to start the second half turned the tide against the Bulldogs.

"We came out in the third and fourth quarters, after the turnover and the quick seven they scored, we didn't respond well and it cost us," he said. "We've got to continue to grow as a football team. I trust these guys and believe in these kids, we've just got to eliminate some mistakes and say positive."

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.  

GAME #3

Who: No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln vs. MGCCC

When: Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.

Where: A.L. May Memorial Stadium, Perkinston

Online: Watch at http://livestream.com/BulldogLIVE/events/6341512

Listen: SuperTalk Mississippi 103.1 FM

THE SERIES 

Overall: Gulf Coast leads 50-30-2

First Meeting: 1928

Last Meeting (Nov. 15, 2015): Co-Lin 31, MGCCC 30 (OT)

Streak: Co-Lin has won the last two meetings