Gulf Coast needs win at Jones to ensure postseason

PERKINSTON — There are a slew of MACJC South playoff scenarios floating around, but for Mississippi Gulf Coast the mission Thursday at Jones County is simple.

Win and the Bulldogs are in.

"They understand the situation at hand," Gulf Coast coach Chad Huff said. "It's the biggest game of the year, kinda like last week. We need to win to get in. The kids are exited and are preparing like it's the biggest game of their lives."

MGCCC's radio broadcast will be streamed at http://livestream.com/BulldogLIVE/MGCCCvsJCJCFootball16. You can see the Jones County video stream at http://www.jcjc.tv.

The Bulldogs (5-3, 4-1 MACJC South) and Bobcats (5-3, 2-3) kick off at 7 p.m. at Sim Cooley Field in Ellisville. Gulf Coast can finish anywhere from first to third when the week is over.

If Gulf Coast wins, it will finish first if East Central loses at Southwest on Saturday. East Central (4-4, 4-1) wins the division if it wins, having beaten Gulf Coast.

If Gulf Coast and East Central lose, and if Copiah-Lincoln (5-3, 3-2) wins, the Bulldogs would lose a three-team tiebreaker and miss the postseason.

Jones's defense will present a challenge, having allowed only 247 yards per game, best in the state. The Bobcats have 58 sacks in eight games.

Gulf Coast quarterback Larry Sisson (6-0, 210, So., Resurrection/Pascagoula) has completed 38 of 57 of his passes (66.7 percent) for 441 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while starting the last two games.

The balanced Bulldog attack has seen T'Rod Daniels (5-9, 190, So., Bassfield/Bassfield) rush for more than 100 yards in three of the last four games. He ran for 151 yards against Southwest and 173 against Pearl River the last two times out.

Huff has stressed special teams this week, and he's seen Joshua Rowland (5-10, 190, So., Madison Central/Madison) win the last two MACJC Special Teams Player of the Week awards and the NJCAA award once. He pointed to the Ohio State-Penn State game, where the Nittany Lions blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown for a 10-point swing in the game.

Those points could be vital against a team that's better than their record indicates.

"They've played well this year. They've lost some key games due to some turnovers, mistakes they've made. But they very well could be sitting there 7-1 or 8-0."

GAME #9

Who: MGCCC (5-3, 4-1 MACJC South) at Jones County (5-3, 2-3)

When: Thursday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.

Where: Sim Cooley Field, Ellisville

Online: Watch at http://livestream.com/BulldogLIVE/MGCCCvsJCJCFootball16

Listen: SuperTalk Mississippi 103.1 FM

THE SERIES 

Overall: Series tied 43-43-6 (The 1930 game was ruled out of the records)

First Meeting: 1929

Last Meeting (Sept. 24, 2015): MGCCC 37, JCJC 27

Streak: MGCCC has won the last two meetings and 10 out of the last 12

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