Bulldogs trek to Texas for district playoff game

Mississippi Gulf Coast faces a tough road trip to Texas for a South District playoff game against Tyler.

But the Bulldogs have a more primal feeling than being one game away from the national tournament.

"We want to get the bad taste out of our mouth," Gulf Coast coach Chris Handy said. "I really don't even think we've comprehended that part yet. We just want to feel better. To do that, we need to line up and play well and battle."

Gulf Coast (15-2) had its 14-game win streak snapped in the MACJC Championship game, falling 2-0 to Hinds. The loss cost the Bulldogs a chance to host a district game, plus it sends them to play the No. 1 team in the country on its home field.

Tyler has won all 19, and the Apaches are riding a five-game shutout streak. They have scored 82 goals while allowing just seven.

"They are the premier junior college program and have been since 2009," Handy said. "They've won four championships since then. We're facing history."

Tyler won titles in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014 and were runners-up in 2013 and 2015.

Gulf Coast has outscored opponents 70-22 this year, and the Bulldogs played Region 14 runner-up San Jacinto tough in a 5-3 loss early in the season. San Jacinto lost two 1-0 games to Tyler.

"We've had a good year and we've got good players," Handy said. "We have to try to make them defend us and not have them just attacking us the whole time, with us just waiting for them to score. "

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