Bulldogs fall to Lions, 35-0
SCOOBA --- Forty-two minutes and ten seconds of Saturday's North Division matchup between the Holmes Community College Bulldogs and the Lions of East Mississippi seemed more like a prize fight than a NJCAA football game.
The Bulldogs and Lions went toe-to-toe until 2:50 to play in the third quarter when the Lions got the first points of the game on a rushing touchdown and an extra point. The Lions then added 28 points in the fourth quarter to pull of the 35-0 win.
With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 3-1 in the North Division and 3-3 overall and will play Northwest Mississippi Community College on Thursday night in another key North Division matchup. The Rangers are 4-0 in the North and 5-0 overall and sit atop the North Division. Thursday's game is a Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Game, and Bulldog fans are asked to participate by wearing pink. The game can be heard on the Bulldog Football Network beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the Jeff Koonz Coaches Show. Stations included in the network are 101.1 FM, 103.9 FM and 100.1 FM along with breezynews.com and wyab.com.
Two times in the first quarter, the Bulldogs marched their way down the field to have two drives stopped at EMCC 33 yard line. On fourth and 17 from the 33, a Dennis Robertson pass fell incomplete while a drive later, on third down and five, Jacorie Ousley fumbled the ball away to the Lions.
The Bulldogs had a takeaway in the first quarter where Quay Watt intercepted Quez Johnson at the Holmes 29. Another takeaway happened in the first quarter when Johnson connected with Billy Shed from the 23 yard line to the 18 before Shed fumbled, and the Bulldogs recovered.
In the second quarter, Holmes had two more chances inside East Mississippi territory to get some points on the scoreboard. On fourth down from the Lion 28, a Robertson pass fell incomplete. Then on fourth and one from the Lion 40, the Lion defense stuffed Antwan Bulley for no gain.
East Mississippi had the ball fourth and three from the Bulldog 44 early in the second quarter and attempted a fourth down pass, and it fell incomplete giving the ball over to the Bulldogs. Later in the second, the Bulldog defense held the Lions once again. On fourth and seven from the Bulldog 40, a Johnson pass fell incomplete.
Late in the third quarter, East Mississippi mounted its first scoring drive of the game. Johnson found Shed from the Lion 42 all the way to the Bulldog seven. On fourth and one from the one, Rodriguez Moore scored to give the Lions the lead for good. Morgan Rhodes gave East Mississippi the 7-0 lead with 2:50 to play in the quarter.
Ousley then put the Bulldogs in business at the East Mississippi 41 after he returned a kickoff 37 yards. Holmes then moved the ball to the 20 before Shaquille Fluker intercepted Robertson at the five and returned to the ball to the Lion 41.
On the Bulldogs' next possession, the Lions got another takeaway as Jason Yarbor intercepted Robertson from the Holmes 14 and returned it to the six. The Bulldog defense along with several key penalties forced the Lions into a 40-yard field goal that was no good.
The Lions added another score with 9:57 to play in the game when Johnson found Nick Brassell from 32 yards out. Rhodes extra point put the Lions up 14-0.
Another Robertson interception gave the ball back to the Lions on the next drive. Justin Cox got the interception at the Bulldog 36. Johnson then found Moore from 32 yards out to make the score 21-0 with 8:45 to play in the game after Rhodes' extra point was good.
East Mississippi added two more scores in the last five minutes of the game. Xavier Hogan scored from three yards out, and Johnson found Martay Mattox from 16 yards out for the score. Rhodes connected on both extra points.
Jonathan Rumph was the Bulldogs' leading receiver with five catches for 49 yards while John Kern was the leading rusher with six carries for 27 yards. Robertson was 16-of-33 for 140 yards.
Quay Watt led the Bulldogs with 13 tackles including eight solos. He also had one interception and two pass breakups. Bobby Hill had 11 tackles including eight solos. He also had one sack and one caused fumble. Eric Hilton had two tackles for loss and a sack along with six tackles. Dion Dawson had four tackles and two sacks. Terrell Cason had eight tackles including one tackle for loss and one caused fumble. Kris Givens had five tackles and three pass breakups.