The 2015 football season started on a down note for the Southwest Mississippi Community College football team Thursday night as it dropped a 69-20 decision to top-ranked East Mississippi Lions in Scooba.
After falling behind early 7-0, the Bears appeared ready to make a game of it as they took a 14-7 lead. Quarterback Neil McLaurin scored on 17-yard run with 10:38 on the clock and LaDarian Peterson added a 24-yard scoring run with 7:49 to play. Reed James added the PAT after both scores. McLaurin later left the game with an injury.
The Lions roared back with a 4-yard scoring strike from Wyatt Roberts to Corey Davis, a 22-yard fumble return by Ronald Ollie, and Grayson Pontius’ extra points to hold a 21-14 lead after the first quarter.
The Bears’ defense hung tough in the second quarter, allowing only two Pontius field goals as they trailed 27-14 at the end of the first half.
The Bears narrowed the gap to 27-20 with 12:11 to play in the third quarter when Tyler Shell connected with Ravian Pierce for a 54-yard scoring pass to close out a five-play, 76-yard drive. James booted the PAT.
From that point on, it was all East Mississippi. The Lions answered the Bears’ score with a 100-yard kickoff return by Isaiah Wright. The hosts then added three more scores in the quarter to make the score 55-20 and picked up their final two scores in the final quarter.
“We just have to be able to play four quarters,” Bears head coach Tucker Peavey said.
“At the end of the day, I think that (loss) is what’s going to happen, and when a little adversity comes along you can’t panic and do things that are unsound. ...
“Offensively, we were 3-and-out too much and a lot of it just pure execution. We’ll go back to work this week and we’ll see where we’re at next week.”
The Bears were held to 273 offensive yards in the game and lost two of three fumbles.
Shell completed nine of 21 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.
McLaurin completed one of three for 11 yards.
Ravian Pierce hauled in five passes for 87 yards and a score.
Peterson carried the ball six times for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Justin Blue totaled 37 yards on seven carries while McLaurin toted the ball five times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions totaled 712 yards of offense with Roberts and John Franklin combining to complete 34 of 56 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns.
D.J. Law and Jacquez Horsley combined to rush 22 times for 242 yards and a pair of scores.
SMCC travels to Moorhead Thursday to visit Mississippi Delta Community College. The Trojans opened their Season with a 34-0 loss at East Central Community College.
