No. 4 Gulf Coast could face shootout Thursday
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
|
East Mississippi Community College (2-2) | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
PERKINSTON — Two of the nation's four top-scoring offenses will be on the field in Scooba on Thursday when No. 4 Mississippi Gulf Coast travels to play No. 6 East Mississippi.
The Bulldogs (3-0) average more than 51 points per game, and the Lions (2-1) score 44. So, is Gulf Coast coach Jack Wright predicting another shootout in a rivalry known for a game that once saw 146 points scored in a game?
"I hate to make those predictions," he said. "I've tried to guess how games will go, and I'm typically wrong. I think both teams have to be prepared to adjust to whatever the circumstances are in the game and be flexible. They have a great coaching staff, so if we're able to have some success, they'll adjust, and we'll have to respond. And vice versa."
Kickoff at Sullivan-Windham Field is set for 7 p.m. The game will be streamed at https://emcclive.com/watch-live/, with the Gulf Coast radio broadcast available on SuperTalk 103.1 FM and at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.
EMCC beat Gulf Coast 75-71 in the 2009 MACJC championship game. The teams also combined for 93 points in a regular-season matchup last year, tied for 10th most in MGCCC history.
Gulf Coast has scored more points through three games (154) than any team in school history, and the Bulldogs margin of victory (107) is tied for second (2014, 117 points). They are the only team in the country with 10 rushing and 10 passing touchdowns.
Eli Anderson (So., Philadelphia/Neshoba Central), who quarterbacked East Mississippi to the MACCC title last year before transferring to Perk, is sixth in the NJCAA with eight TD passes, and his four scoring runs last week at Southwest have him tied for third. Jay Dupree (So., Philadelphia, Miss./Neshoba Central) ranks in the top five in the country in receiving yards (95.7 ypg) and touchdowns (4).
The Lions are similarly blessed offensively, led by USM transfer Ty Keyes.
"As always, they're very explosive on offense," Wright said. "They have some really talented receivers, some hard-running backs and, of course, their quarterback has started off really strong and put up big numbers."
The Bulldogs will face a fast, athletic defense. Wright said they're able to generate pressure on the quarterback without blitzing, allowing them to cover the back end with more bodies.
Gulf Coast's special teams have helped fuel their strong start. Dayan Bilbo (So., Vancleave/Vancleave) is tied for third in average kickoff return (34.0) and sixth in average punt return (12.6). His 169.0 total yards per game is fifth.
He arrived at Gulf Coast as a running back but has transitioned to wide receiver this year. He's a hard worker who has been able to take advantage of working in more space. Bilbo is averaging 15.6 yards per reception.
"He's a fantastic athlete and had gobs and gobs of touchdowns in high school," Wright said. "He's a really good football player, and probably hasn't had his fair share of touches since he's been here, but when he does touch it, he's explosive. His effect on the return game has been phenomenal. He's been able to do some things on his own, but he also sets up blocks and uses the scheme to his advantage."
Game #4
WHO: No. 4 Gulf Coast (3-0) vs. No. 6 East Mississippi (2-1)
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Sullivan-Windham Field, Scooba
LISTEN: SuperTalk Mississippi 103.1 FM or https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch
WATCH: https://emcclive.com/watch-live/
The Series
Series record: Gulf Coast leads 32-31-4
First Meeting: 1929
Last Meeting: Nov. 5, 2022, East Mississippi 38, Gulf Coast 27
Notes: East Mississippi has won nine of the last 10 meetings between the teams … Gulf Coast has 10 shutouts in its 31 victories, the last of which came in 1983 … East Mississippi has six shutouts in its 29 victories, the last of which came in 1987 … Gulf Coast's longest win streak in the series in seven games (1975-86) … East Mississippi's longest winning streak is 10 games (1987-2008) … The biggest Gulf Coast win in the series was a 55-0 victory in 1983, while the biggest East Mississippi win came in 1961 (49-0).
Series History |
|
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 10/19/29 | MGCCC 19, East Mississippi Junior College 13 |
| 10/18/30 | MGCCC 0, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 9/26/31 | East Mississippi Junior College 12, MGCCC 0 |
| 9/24/32 | East Mississippi Junior College 7, MGCCC 0 |
| 9/23/33 | East Mississippi Junior College 18, MGCCC 12 |
| 9/22/34 | MGCCC 7, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 10/19/35 | MGCCC 40, East Mississippi Junior College 6 |
| 10/17/36 | MGCCC 6, East Mississippi Junior College 6 |
| 10/16/37 | MGCCC 13, East Mississippi Junior College 6 |
| 10/15/38 | MGCCC 31, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 10/14/39 | MGCCC 7, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 10/12/40 | East Mississippi Junior College 13, MGCCC 0 |
| 10/11/41 | MGCCC 6, East Mississippi Junior College 6 |
| 11/6/42 | MGCCC 27, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 11/1/46 | MGCCC 18, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 10/25/47 | MGCCC 20, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 10/14/48 | MGCCC 13, East Mississippi Junior College 6 |
| 10/15/49 | MGCCC 27, East Mississippi Junior College 6 |
| 10/13/50 | East Mississippi Junior College 61, MGCCC 21 |
| 10/13/51 | MGCCC 31, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 10/11/52 | MGCCC 19, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 10/10/53 | MGCCC 35, East Mississippi Junior College 13 |
| 10/8/60 | East Mississippi Junior College 35, MGCCC 8 |
| 10/7/61 | East Mississippi Junior College 49, MGCCC 0 |
| 11/1/62 | MGCCC 13, East Mississippi Junior College 8 |
| 11/2/63 | MGCCC 47, East Mississippi Junior College 18 |
| 9/24/64 | East Mississippi Junior College 34, MGCCC 14 |
| 9/25/65 | MGCCC 35, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 9/22/66 | MGCCC 14, East Mississippi Junior College 10 |
| 9/23/67 | East Mississippi Junior College 14, MGCCC 13 |
| 9/14/68 | MGCCC 31, East Mississippi Junior College 12 |
| 9/13/69 | East Mississippi Junior College 10, MGCCC 7 |
| 10/24/70 | MGCCC 23, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 10/16/71 | MGCCC 33, East Mississippi Junior College 13 |
| 9/15/72 | MGCCC 27, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 9/15/73 | MGCCC 28, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 9/21/74 | East Mississippi Junior College 14, MGCCC 7 |
| 9/20/75 | MGCCC 21, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 9/20/80 | MGCCC 15, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 9/19/81 | MGCCC 23, East Mississippi Junior College 3 |
| 10/9/82 | MGCCC 21, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 10/8/83 | MGCCC 55, East Mississippi Junior College 0 |
| 11/10/84 | MGCCC 50, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 8/30/86 | MGCCC 19, East Mississippi Junior College 7 |
| 9/3/87 | East Mississippi Junior College 12, MGCCC 0 |
| 11/5/88 | East Mississippi Junior College 31, MGCCC 28 |
| 11/4/89 | East Mississippi Community College 23, MGCCC 21 |
| 9/15/94 | East Mississippi Community College 24, MGCCC 14 |
| 9/14/95 | East Mississippi Community College 39, MGCCC 14 |
| 9/12/96 | East Mississippi Community College 45, MGCCC 35 |
| 9/11/97 | East Mississippi Community College 27, MGCCC 22 |
| 9/12/02 | East Mississippi Community College 10, MGCCC 7 |
| 9/11/03 | East Mississippi Community College 10, MGCCC 6 |
| 9/18/08 | East Mississippi Community College 27, MGCCC 23 |
| 9/17/09 | MGCCC 43, East Mississippi Community College 26 |
| 11/7/09 | East Mississippi Community College 75, MGCCC 71 |
| 9/2/10 | MGCCC 40, East Mississippi Community College 21 |
| 9/1/11 | East Mississippi Community College 34, MGCCC 30 |
| 11/12/11 | East Mississippi Community College 42, MGCCC 17 |
| 11/2/13 | East Mississippi Community College 45, MGCCC 28 |
| 11/1/14 | East Mississippi Community College 42, MGCCC 21 |
| 9/8/16 | East Mississippi Community College 45, MGCCC 7 |
| 11/5/16 | East Mississippi Community College 27, MGCCC 24 |
| 9/7/17 | East Mississippi Community College 49, MGCCC 10 |
| 11/2/19 | MGCCC 31, East Mississippi Community College 7 |
| 9/22/22 | East Mississippi Community College 48, MGCCC 45 |
| 11/5/22 | East Mississippi Community College 38, MGCCC 27 |
For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
