#19 Co-Lin upsets #3 MGCCC 29-26
PERKINSTON---Since 2006, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College had beaten Co-Lin on Homecoming four straight times.
Unfortunately, the fifth time wasn't the charm as the #19 Wolves (6-2, 4-1) upset #3 Gulf Coast on Homecoming 2014 29-26.
The loss not only ruined a run by Gulf Coast (7-1, 5-1) at an undefeated season, it also gives Co-Lin the inside track to the MACJC South Division title. If the Wolves beat Jones next week, they'll earn home field advantage through the post-season, sending Gulf Coast on the road in the first round to face #1 East Mississippi.
"We've got to bounce back from adversity," said Chad Huff, who suffered his first loss as the Bulldogs head coach. "We gave great effort today, but didn't finish the game. It's all about how we'll handle this loss."
The Bulldogs took a failed onside kick attempt by Co-Lin and scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jason Smith to Tyrone Williams to take a 7-0 lead. However the Wolves answered on the very next play with a 90-yard kickoff return from Diquan Davis. Then Gulf Coast blocked the extra point and Tony Bridges took it back for a 2-point conversion. When the smoke cleared, the Bulldogs lead 9-6 just 37 second into the contest.
The Bulldogs took a 19-9 lead into halftime on a 26-yard field goal by Tristan Reynolds and a 23-yard TD pass from Smith to Jevon Floyd.
Co-Lin then ran off a string of 17 unanswered points, with the first score coming on a 5-yard TD run by Diquan Davis in the third quarter and a 6-yard TD pass from Daniel Fitzwater to Daniel Gray making it 23-19 Wolves with 14:54 to go in the 4th quarter. Co-Lin was aided during that 17-0 run by a running into the kicker penalty on the Bulldogs and a muffed punt by Tony Bridges.
Reynolds missed a field goal attempt with 5:10 to go but the Gulf Coast defense held and set up Smith for his third TD pass of the day, a 26-yard strike to Tavaris McCormick giving the Bulldogs a 26-23 lead with 2:02 remaining.
The Diquan Davis struck again with another kickoff return for a touchdown, this one a 99-yard sprint. The PAT was blocked again and the Wolves lead was 29-26 with 1:48 left.
One final drive by Gulf Coast ended when Smith's pass to Tyrone Williams was incomplete on fourth-and-six from the Co-Lin 30 with :36 left.
In this annual MACJC South Division battle, the road team has won four out of the last five meetings.
(Left): Tyrone Williams scores a TD vs. Co-Lin Oct. 18.
