No. 4 MGCCC faces Itawamba – again

PERKINSTON — No. 4 Mississippi Gulf Coast faces a unique scenario Thursday to open the 2016 season. It begins with a trip to Fulton to play Itawamba, and for the Indians it will be their third straight matchup against the Bulldogs.

The teams played the final regular-season game against each other, then turned around and met in the first round of the MACJC playoffs. Gulf Coast won both contests in Perkinston.

"We're looking at a very talented football team," Bulldogs coach Chad Huff said. "It's going to take everything we've got. Obviously, those guys want us more than anybody coming off the two games last year and playing us three times in a row."

In fact, Huff also squared off against ICC coach Sean Cannon, his former college roommate at Delta State, again in the MACJC All-Star Game in Biloxi. Huff coached the South to a 21-10 win over Cannon's North squad.

Gulf Coast has won the last nine games against Itawamba to extend the series lead to 34-15-1. Kickoff in Fulton is at 7 p.m.

Octavious Matthews helped Itawamba to the playoffs last year by running for 808 yards and averaging 8.6 yards per carry. He's considered the top junior college running back and is committed to Auburn. Huff said he can score from anywhere on the field

Matthews has got a new partner in the backfield, with Washington State transfer Peyton Bender expected to be the Indians' starter. He completed 53-of-91 passes for 498 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions for the Cougars as a freshman.

"There's not a lot of film, but expecting and knowing what he can do is scary," Huff said. "We're going to have to do a good job putting pressure on him and keeping him from getting behind us deep. We've got to handle that one-two combo with the quarterback and the great running back."

The Bulldogs' experienced offensive line, which returns four starters, will see five out-of-state defensive linemen. Huff described them simply as "big," all 300-pounders. They're led by Lee Autry, a North Carolinian who is committed to Mississippi State.

For the second year in a row, the Bulldogs face a long road trip to start the season. Huff said he's telling his team to consider it a business trip.

He's seen progress from the freshmen class and good leadership from the sophomores. As usual, he's preaching one main key to victory.

"These first games, you look at any game across the country, the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins," Huff said. "We can't turn it over and we've got to create turnovers."

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com. 

GAME #1

Who: No. 4 MGCCC vs. Itawamba

What: Regular-season opener

When: Thursday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.

Where: Eaton Field, Fulton

Online: Watch at LetsGoICCTV.com/red or listen at https://livestream.com/BulldogLIVE/events/6254280

Listen: SuperTalk Mississippi 103.1 FM

THE SERIES 

Overall series: Gulf Coast leads 34-15-1

First meeting: 1952

Last meeting (Oct. 31, 2015):  MGCCC 49, Itawamba 17

Streak: MGCCC has won last nine meetings