#7 MGCCC thumps Itawamba 49-3

FULTON---After having its Homecoming ruined by Co-Lin last week, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College returned the favor by spoiling Itawamba's Homecoming in a 49-3 rout.

    Gulf Coast (8-1) now gets ready for the college's eighth straight trip to the post-season with a road trip to battle top ranked and unbeaten East Mississippi Nov.1 in Scooba.

   "We had a great week of practice, and it showed today," said Bulldogs head coach Chad Huff. "The guys came out strong and showed they can rebound from adversity."

   The Bulldogs scored on their first three offensive possessions of the game. Quarterback Jason Smith ran for two scores and tossed a TD pass to Tyrone Williams while Tavaris McCormick scored on an 11-yard run. Smith, a University of Auburn commit, has finished the regular season with 17 TD passes and no interceptions.

  A 30-yard TD run on a fumble recovery by James Graves just before halftime made it 35-3 at the break.

  "I give credit to my teammates on that play," Graves said. "We got the sack and fumble, and I was able to scoop and score."

  Tyler McCann's 43-yard TD sprint and a 2-yard TD plunge by Rojae Raine in the second half put the final tally at 49-3.

  It's also the third time in four games that the Bulldog defense has not allowed a touchdown.

  Next week's road trip to East Mississippi marks the third time in the last five seasons that the Bulldogs and Lions have met in the playoffs.

The Bulldog defense held Itawamba to three points Oct. 25.