The homestanding Southwest Bears put up a good fight, but it was not good enough as they dropped a 34-23 decision to 13th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs on Thursday night.
“We started off playing well on both sides of the ball,” said Southwest coach Charles Anthony. “But, (when) we went up 14-7 , we started shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Southwest (1-3) took its final lead of the game after a 59-yard Fidel Montgomery kickoff return set them up at the visitors’ 38-yard line. The Bears needed less than 5:00 to score as quarterback Vintavious Cooper did the honors with his second score of the night, a 5-yard run into the end zone, with 4:54 remaining before the half to make it 14-7.
It took just 13 seconds for Gulf Coast (3-1) to tie the game as the Bears return coverage broke down and allowed Otis Jacobs to return the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown with 4:41 on the clock.
Taking advantage of a fumble recovery at the Southwest 33-yard line, the Bulldogs needed just four plays to take their first lead of the night, 21-14, and close out the first-half scoring with 2:17 left in the half. Ole Miss transfer quarterback Raymond Cotton connected with Javon Bell for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
Gulf Coast pushed its lead to 28-14 early in the third, but the Bears ended the quarter with 3:11 on the clock when Jake Saltalamacchia booted a 29-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 67-yard drive to make the score a 28-17.
Gulf Coast picked up its final points of the night, and went up 34-17 with 1:30 left in the game.
After a quick score, Southwest made one final attempt at a comeback when they recovered an onside kick at their 43-yard line. But Tyler Caldwell’s final pass was intercepted, ending any such hopes.
The Bears’ only other lead came early when Cooper scored on a 2-yard scamper with 8:59 on the clock in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
The Bears totaled 355 yards on offense on the night. Cooper led the way with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 97 yards.
Laderick Turner had 53 rushing yards on 12 carries Caldwell completed two of four passes for 60 yard with one touchdown and one interception.
Cotton finished 16 of 23 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. Kadero Edley carried the ball 17 times for 67 yards.
Gulf Coast registered 23 first downs on the night, compared Southwest’s 15.
