 PERKINSTON –Facing the nationally-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs on their home turf in a playoff game was a positive experience for Coahoma’s Tigers despite their 58-21 loss, say CCC officials and fans following the game.
“Our Tigers never stopped playing, never gave up and going after points,” agreed Coach Chris Fair and Chris Dixon, who broadcast the game on WNEV Radio.
“It was like taking on Goliath,” commented Fair describing the awesome size of MGCCC’s defensive and offensive linemen plus runner Vick Ballard, leading rusher in Mississippi’s Association of Community and Junior Colleges.
The Bulldogs took advantage of CCC’s high snap and bobbled ball to propel Ballard into the end zone for a quick opening touchdown.
The Tigers were unable to move the ball, and MGCCC scored again on a pass from quarterback Greg Jenkins to Kelvin Bolden to lead 14-0 with 9.6 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Bolden racked up another TD to make it 21-0 three minutes later, and in the second quarter the Ballard machine cranked up another touchdown drive to increase the Bulldog lead to 28-0.
A new Tiger quarterback- Garrick Jones took charge, nailed Daniel Lee with a pass and sent running back Artauvis Gregory scampering on a first down gain. Despite passes to Gregory and LaDarius Dawson, CCC was forced to punt, but the Tigers proved they could move offensively.
After Bulldog quarterback Greg Jenkins logged another MGCCC touchdown for a 35-0 lead with 7.47 remaining in the half, CCC’s small running back Gregory seemed determined to start his own steamroller with a first down drive to the 46.
Jones hit Devon Perry for a first down; then Daniel Lee for a TD, and the score became 35-7.
A dipsy-doodle double reverse by the Bulldogs set up another touchdown and 42-7 on the scoreboard three minutes before the half.
Far from discouraged, Coahoma bounced back with its best drive,
Deangelo Anderson returned the kickoff to the 20; Jones connected with Gregory for a pass, and another to Rishunn McCaleb who took it to the 50, and to Lee at the 25.
Gregory ran to the 17; then to the 8 for a first down, and Jones hit Perry in the end zone for a touchdown. At halftime, MGCCC led 42-14.
Opening the second half, the Jenkins-Ballard machine marched downfield, but a pass to Kelvin Bolden was the difference behind the 49-14 score.
Volatile kickoff return specialist Anderson ran to the 30 and spurred Gregory’s 40-yard gain. On a fourth down gamble, the Tigers were intercepted, but held the Bulldogs and forced their second punt of the afternoon.
Passes to Perry and Gregory earned a first down, but the Tigers couldn’t continue their drive.
However, the Bulldogs sent their massive No. 95 lineman – Johnathan Jenkins – crashing over the goal line for a 56-14 lead in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Tiger line stopped another push by giant No. 95, and CCC’s offense began moving with a fourth down pass to McCaleb.
Passes to Daniel Lee and Perry paired with a run by Gregory led to a TD pass to Hollis Moore in the end zone.
, The score became 56-21, and remained that way til the last when the Bulldogs nailed CCC in the end zone for a safety and a scoreboard final of 58-21.
On the day before the playoff game, the Tigers drove to Hattiesburg.
Scrimmaging beneath the bronze gaze of Southern Mississippi University’s mighty Golden Eagle where Coach Freeman Horton played four years and coached for eight more, Coahoma’s Tigers took in the impressive stadium scene and felt right at home.
Working out kinks from a 5-hour bus ride from Clarksdale through torrential rains, kicker Reid Gallagher and company tested combinations from multi-distances and wide receivers sprinted patterns into end zones dyed golden yellow.
When cloudy skies turned Halloween black, the players boarded buses back to the Comfort Inn, on to Shoney’s buffet, a newly-released Jamie Fox movie, and a good night’s sleep before Saturday’s historic playoff game.
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