Someone once said homecoming games are meant to be won.
The Southwest Mississippi COmmunity College Bears took that to heart Saturday as they prevailed in a hard-fought 14-13 victory over the visiting Jones County Bobcats at John I. Hurst Stadium to end Homecoming 2010 on a high note.
With the win, the Bears ended a five-game losing skid and moved to 3-5 on the season (1-4 in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges South Division), while Jones County fell to 2-6 and 0-5.
Southwest will close out the campaign Thursday night at East Central.
Early on, it seemed as if neither team wanted the win as they exchanged punts on the first four possessions of the game.
Finally, however, the Bears got their offense cranked up and moved the ball 71 yards in seven plays, with Mardavian Martin doing the honors on a 24-yard run touchdown run for the only points of the opening period. Justin Holt’s extra point put the hosts on top 7-0 with 4:45 to go in the first period.
The Bobcats pulled to within 7-3 when Dylan Sobiesk made good on a 21-yard field goal with 12:17 left in the first half.
The kick closed out a 6-play, 87-yard drive that began following an interception of a Martin pass.
After a Holt punt gave it possession on the Bears’ 39-yard line, Jones County put together an 8-play drive that ended with a Justin Gaines 2-yard scoring run. Sobiesk booted the extra point to give the Bobcats a 10-7 advantage, their only lead of the game.
Southwest wasted little time in regaining the lead on its ensuing possession for its final points of the night.
Beginning the march on their own 33, the Bears used a little more than two minutes to drive the ball into the end zone, with Tray Bateaste scampering the final five yards for the touchdown. Holt’s PAT made it 14-10 with 5:20 to go in the third quarter.
The Bobcats picked up the final points of the night and pulled to within one point at 14-13 with 11:20 remaining in the game as Sobiesk drilled a 34-yard field goal to close out an 8-play, 69-yard drive.
After the teams exchanged punts, Southwest took over the ball with 8:15 left in the game and put together a 15-play drive to close out the game at the Bobcats’ 2-yard line.
Southwest head coach Charles Anthony was understandably ecstatic following the win.
“This was our first win over Jones since I’ve been here,” he said.
It was actually the Bears’ first victory over the Bobcats since 2001.
“It was a big win for our program and a big win for out sophomores. For some of them, it was the first time their parents have seen them play and our (sophomores) put on a show for them.
“Our defense played great,” Anthony continued, “the best they've played since Week Two. I was proud of their effort. We finally put pressure on the quarterback and, the bottom line — we made plays today.
“Offensively, we had some long ball-control drives that helped tremendously,” Anthony added.
He went on to praise the punt and kickoff coverage, and closed out his post-game comments by saying that “It’s a great day to be a Bear!”
