GAMEDAY: No. 8 MGCCC heads to Southwest

Don't let the record deceive you. No. 8 Mississippi Gulf Coast heads to Summit to play Southwest on Thursday, and the Bulldogs see a different team than its won-loss mark.

 "I think Southwest is a couple plays away from being 3-0 in the South Division," Gulf Coast coach Chad Huff said. "They played Co-Lin really, really well and had a chance to win that game. Against Jones, they turned the ball over a couple times and Jones ran back an interception. If I'm Coach Tucker, I'm thinking we could really be 3-0."

Gulf Coast (4-1, 3-0 MACJC South) is atop the South Division by a half game over No. 1 Copiah-Lincoln, which needed a last-second field goal last week to force overtime against Southwest (2-3, 1-2). The week before, Jones took advantage of two fourth-quarter turnovers to put 10 points on the board and pull away.

The Bulldogs are riding a three-game win streak that has them up to eighth in the latest NJCAA Top 20, a poll they've appeared in continuously for the last decade.

They head to Southwest having won the last eight meeting between the teams and lead the overall series 55-22-3.

The Bears will be without starting quarterback Tyler Shell for the second week after a knee injury. He's replaced by Casey Haygood, who is 17-for-35 for 222 yards and a touchdown.

The backup listed on the Southwest two-deep is tight end Clifford Fernandez, who has 11 catches for 101 yards. Fellow tight end Ravian Pierce leads the team with 20 catches.

"They're going to try to run the football," Huff said. "We'll have to be physical up front. It'll be a big game for our front seven.

"They're going to run play-action passes and hit those tight ends right down the seams. They've had tight ends open every time they've played."

LaDarion Peterson (61 rushes, 340 yards, 2 TD) and Justin Blue (56 rushes, 320 yards, 4 TD) have nearly identical statistics.

A.J. Erdely has completed more than 60 percent of his passes for the Bulldogs, with five touchdowns and two interceptions. His favorite target has been Ishmel Morrow, who has 29 catches for 365 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs running game has been energized by the play of freshman Ge'Vonte Jones. He has more than 100 yards rushing in each of the last two games, with touchdowns in both.

Huff said his team will have to solve Southwest's 4-2 defensive front. He knows the assistant coach in charge of the rest of those defenders, defensive backs coach Donald Dykes.

Huff played for Dykes when they were at Delta State, and getting having success against his unit will be key for Gulf Coast.

"We'll try getting the ball out to receivers," he said. "We'll try to spread them out so we can get their run game going."

The Bulldogs figure to face a motivated squad in Summit. Southwest will have a point to prove.

"Coach Tucker Peavey will have his team ready to play," Huff said. "If they find a way to win this ballgame, they'll think they're back in this race.

"Everything is on the line. We've got to everything we can to win this football game."

GAME #6

#8 MGCCC (4-1, 3-0 MACJC South) vs. Southwest (2-3, 1-2 MACJC South)

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Summit

THE SERIES 

·     Gulf Coast Leads Series 55-22-3

·     First Meeting: 1931

·     Last Meeting (2014):  MGCCC 28, Southwest 0