Bulldogs clash with Trojans in opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi Delta Community College (0-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (1-0) | 14 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 52 |
PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast and Mississippi Delta head into a season-opening clash with one thing in common: no game tape.
Both teams have had significant turnover in players and coaches, so first-year Bulldogs head coach Jack Wright is looking at the one thing he knows a lot about. Gulf Coast.
"That's where we are this week," he said. "What are we good at as a team? What are our strengths as a team? We want to play to that early in the Delta game. Let's figure out what we're good at, get the ball to our best players. On defense, let's put the pressure on our best players to perform early in the game. That's all I know what to do."
The Thursday game kicks off at 7 p.m. It can be watched online at https://livestream.com/MGCCCBulldogs/events/8346062 or heard on SuperTalk 103.1 FM.
Gulf Coast returns only one coach from last year's staff, and Delta has a new defensive coordinator.
"I think they're a lot like us in the fact there's been a lot of changes on the roster, a lot of coming and going," Wright said. "From that perspective, it makes it tough on both coaching staffs to prepare. Anytime you're getting ready to go in and play an opponent that's had some coaching and roster changes, you have to rely on what your base system. You have to hope that holds up, especially early in the game."
The Trojans return quarterback Tyrique McAfee, who threw for more than 330 yards and a touchdown in last year's 52-20 Bulldogs win. Gulf Coast has a four-game winning streak against MDCC dating back to 2010, having outscored the Trojans 44-8 over that span.
Delta also has a couple of their top receivers coming back.
"There are always a lot of tough kids in the Delta," Wright said. "I've known Jeff Tatum for about five years now, since he won the Mississippi Bowl with Garden City. He's always done a good job. We're looking forward to the challenge."
Gulf Coast's goals include getting A lot of their players on the field. It lets them determine their own fate by giving the coaching staff that vital game tape. There are also other important reasons.
"The goal, not just against Delta, but against everybody, is to play everybody," Wright said. "You can't cost the team a win in the process, but I like to play a lot of players. You're talking about a long season in the MACJC. There's injuries, and the more people that have experience, the better off you're going to be in the long run."
Game #1
WHO: Mississippi Delta at MGCCC
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m.
WHERE: A.L. May Memorial Stadium, Perkinston
ONLINE: Watch https://livestream.com/MGCCCBulldogs
LISTEN: SuperTalk Mississippi 103.1 FM
The Series
Series record: Gulf Coast leads 24-16
First Meeting: 1929
Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2017, MGCCC 52, Mississippi Delta 20
Notes: Gulf Coast has won four straight in the series, dating back to 2010 … The Bulldogs are averaging 44.2 points in the streak, allowing 8.5 points … Gulf Coast has registered 10 shutouts in its 24 victories.
Series Scores |
|
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 10/26/29 | MGCCC 7, Sunflower Junior College 0 |
| 10/25/30 | Sunflower Junior College 33, MGCCC 7 |
| 9/20/46 | MGCCC 6, Sunflower Junior College 0 |
| 11/25/47 | MGCCC 26, Sunflower Junior College 14 |
| 11/19/48 | MGCCC 27, Sunflower Junior College 6 |
| 11/18/49 | MGCCC 20, Sunflower Junior College 0 |
| 11/8/58 | MGCCC 30, Sunflower Junior College 12 |
| 11/5/59 | MGCCC 36, Sunflower Junior College 14 |
| 9/10/60 | Mississippi Delta Junior College 16, MGCCC 7 |
| 9/9/61 | Mississippi Delta Junior College 14, MGCCC 13 |
| 9/12/64 | MGCCC 13, Mississippi Delta Junior College 0 |
| 9/11/65 | MGCCC 14, Mississippi Delta Junior College 0 |
| 10/8/66 | MGCCC 40, Mississippi Delta Junior College 13 |
| 10/7/67 | MGCCC 22, Mississippi Delta Junior College 14 |
| 10/26/68 | MGCCC 14, Mississippi Delta Junior College 0 |
| 10/25/69 | Mississippi Delta Junior College 37, MGCCC 21 |
| 11/21/70 | MGCCC 24, Mississippi Delta Junior College 7 |
| 11/20/71 | MGCCC 26, Mississippi Delta Junior College 14 |
| 10/5/74 | Mississippi Delta Junior College 13, MGCCC 10 |
| 10/4/75 | MGCCC 47, Mississippi Delta Junior College 0 |
| 9/23/78 | MGCCC 24, Mississippi Delta Junior College 10 |
| 9/22/79 | Mississippi Delta Junior College 10, MGCCC 0 |
| 10/4/80 | MGCCC 35, Mississippi Delta Junior College 6 |
| 10/3/81 | Mississippi Delta Junior College 25, MGCCC 21 |
| 8/30/84 | MGCCC 27, Mississippi Delta Junior College 0 |
| 9/26/92 | MGCCC 26, Mississippi Delta Community College 13 |
| 9/23/93 | Mississippi Delta Community College 49, MGCCC 7 |
| 9/29/94 | Mississippi Delta Community College 31, MGCCC 23 |
| 9/28/95 | Mississippi Delta Community College 19, MGCCC 7 |
| 9/19/96 | Mississippi Delta Community College 28, MGCCC 21 |
| 9/18/97 | Mississippi Delta Community College 20, MGCCC 14 |
| 9/3/98 | Mississippi Delta Community College 35, MGCCC 7 |
| 9/2/99 | MGCCC 53, Mississippi Delta Community College 47 |
| 10/12/02 | Mississippi Delta Community College 30, MGCCC 25 |
| 10/9/03 | Mississippi Delta Community College 42, MGCCC 35 |
| 9/2/04 | Mississippi Delta Community College 28, MGCCC 0 |
| 9/9/10 | MGCCC 52, Mississippi Delta Community College 0 |
| 9/8/11 | MGCCC 31, Mississippi Delta Community College 14 |
| 10/6/16 | MGCCC 42, Mississippi Delta Community College 0 |
| 10/5/17 | MGCCC 52, Mississippi Delta Community College 20 |
For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
