PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s ground game, and five turnovers that led to 24 points, was simply too much for Southwest Mississippi Community College to overcome Thursday night as the Bears dropped a 48-7 MACJC South Division decision.
With the loss, Southwest dropped to 2-5 overall, 1-3 in the South. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 8 in the NJCAA poll, moved to 5-2 overall, 3-1.
“They’re a good football team,” SMCC head coach Tucker Peavey said of the Bulldogs. “They’re a power-running team. They had over 500 (rushing) yards, 98 of them on one play. You just can’t give up those big plays. Until we can stop laying the ball on the ground, we’ll have trouble beating anybody.”
Peavey saw a positive side.
“We ran the ball very effectively (211 rushing yards) But again, when you’re having to play catch up, it kind of puts you in a bad situation. We’ve just got to protect the football. I’m about at a point where I think it’s down to the individual to make himself do that.”
The Bulldogs led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter after Antwon Wells scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 3-yard dash. Tristan Reynolds kicked the extra point. The score came following an SMCC fumble.
Wells added touchdown runs of 9 and 12 yards in the second quarter, while quarterback Terrian Page tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Marlon Pope. Reynolds booted three PAT’s and added a 26-yard field goal to give the hosts a 31-0 lead at the half.
Southwest put together its only scoring drive of the game and the only points of the third quarter.
Starting at their own 34, the Bears needed nine plays. Running back Chris Jones did the honors on a 20-yard run. Michael McDaniel added the extra point to make the score 31-7 at the 8:35 mark.
Gulf Coast scored 17 more points in the final quarter. An interception and short drive following a punt allowed Rod Williams to score twice, one on a 98-yard run. The final points — a 45-yard Reynolds field goal — came after a recovery of a muffed kickoff return by SMCC.
Jones led the Bears rushing with 90 yards on 13 carries. De’Angelo Ballard ran 11 times for 36 yards.
SMCC hosts Jones County next Thursday. JCJC is No. 2 in the NJCAA.
