Bulldogs rally for wild, wild Wesson win

PHOTO BY CHUCK BROOKS/COPIAH-LINCOLN CC

WESSON — Mississippi Gulf Coast's crazy Thursday night caused heart palpitations throughout Copiah-Lincoln's Stone Stadium, but the Bulldogs headed back south after roaring back for a 31-28 win.

The Bulldogs were down 21-7 in the second quarter before utter madness descended on the game. The Regulators pitched a shutout after the break, and Gulf Coast piled up nearly 500 yards in total offense. There was a blocked chip-shot field-goal attempt and a game-ending drive of more than 10 minutes, finishing off a hard-won victory.

"I really don't know exactly how it happened," Gulf Coast coach Jack Wright said. "I'm going to have to go back and slow it down. I know we made a couple of huge plays in the passing game, but the one play that does stand out was Cam's fumble picked up by Pat who threw it to Rico. That obviously had a huge impact in the game."

That's right, Gulf Coast's season was saved, in large part, when a running back fumbled, the quarterback picked it up, and he threw a pass that turned into an 89-yard touchdown catch-and-run. More about that in a minute.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-3 overall, 2-1 in the MACCC, while Co-Lin falls to 3-3, 1-2. Gulf Coast gets a long week to prepare for East Central, its Homecoming opponent on Oct. 15.

Gulf Coast running back Cam Thomas (So., Picayune/Picayune) opened the scoring, capping off a quick drive with a 7-yard touchdown four minutes into the game. But the Bulldogs offense didn't manage a possession longer than five plays in its next four drives, and Co-Lin took advantage.

The Wolves scored on three of their next four possession to go up 21-7 before the Gulf Coast showed a spark. They managed a 12-play, 69-yard drive to all but end the half with a 23-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 11.

They took the opening possession of the second 75 yards in four plays, with Keymari Odum (So., Haines City Fla./Ridge) catching a pass across the middle and breaking tackles for a 39-yard touchdown, his first of two scores on the night.

"The first half, it was mental errors by the offense and defense," Odum said. "So, we just overcame that. Coach Wright gave us a good speech and boosted us up as players, and we just made it happen."

The Regulators forced a three-and-out before disaster struck. Pat McQuaide (Fr., Solon, Ohio/Solon) threw his first interception of the season, and it got returned for a touchdown. Co-Lin led 28-17 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

After two more failed drives, Gulf Coast got the ball back and lightning struck. On second-and-long from their own 11-yard line, Thomas took a handoff around the left end, but had the ball punched out. It bounced back to McQuaide who threw the ball to the other sideline, where Rico Dorsey (So., Hattiesburg/Presbyterian Christian) was all alone. He wound up in the end zone 89 yards later.

"It showed the leader we've got at the quarterback position," Odum said. "He threw a pick, then picked the fumble up and threw a touchdown. It's just overcoming things."

Dorsey had three catches for 106 yards, and McQuaide would finish 20-of-33 for 315 yards, three touchdowns and the interception.

The defense forced another three-and-out, and this time Thomas held onto the ball and scampered for a 52-yard run to set up Odum's second touchdown reception, a back-shoulder throw on a 14-yard wheel route. Gulf Coast led 31-28 with 13:30 to play.

Odum finished with 122 yards on nine catches, including the two scores.

Co-Lin appeared to be in position to respond, ripping off a 58-yard run of its own to get to the 5-yard line. But the Regulators stiffened, allowing two yards on the next three plays to force a game-tying field goal attempt.

It never made it to the uprights.

"I just knew our team was in a critical position," Craig said. "I knew we needed that, and before the play, I said I was going to block it. I had to do it."

The ball bounced out of the end zone, giving it to the Bulldogs with 10:08 to play. Co-Lin never touched the ball again,

Gulf Coast converted two third downs, and two more fourth downs, as Co-Lin expended all three timeouts, and the finally took the victory kneel-down at the 2-yard line to end it.

After allowing 241 yards in the first half, the Gulf Coast defense allowed half that in the second.

"It was a really, really good week of practice," Wright said. "Having these guys buy into each other, knowing our backs are a little against the wall, knowing we were going to be playing a good team tonight and some things might go their way, it was the message all week that we saw come to fruition in the second half. These kids bought in, and I'm just so proud to be able to enjoy this one."

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