Gulf Coast faces deceptive East Central team

Mississippi Gulf Coast faces an opponent with a deceiving record Thursday in Decatur.

East Central (1-2) lost on a last-minute score to fall to Northeast in Week 2 after dropping a high-scoring shootout to Holmes in the opener. The Warriors beat Pearl River 35-21 last week.

"They're a really good football team that could be 3-0 right now," Gulf Coast coach Chad Huff said. "They're 1-0 in the South just like we are."

Kickoff at Bailey Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. Gulf Coast, which is also 1-2, will try to improve to 2-0 in the MACJC South and stay in first place.

Huff said he challenged his team before the Co-Lin game to be the more physical team, and that would determine the winner. He got 60 minutes of effort and the Bulldogs scored twice in the fourth quarter of a 21-7 victory.

Still, there were things to improve.

"We played hard, but we didn't play smart all the time," Huff said. "We had three touchdowns called back that could have really pulled us away in that game a lot sooner."

East Central coach Ken Karcher has offensive coordinator experience at the college and professional level, and the Warriors try to disguise their intentions when they have the ball.

"They're very diverse. They're very formation-oriented," Huff said. "Coach Steve Davis, Coach Stevon Moore and Coach Neil Broussard have been showing the kids all the looks. They'll get in a bunch of different plays and run the same plays, making us have to adjust."

East Central quarterback Dom Marino has completed nearly 60 percent of his attempts for 490 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception in the first three games.

Running back Antonio Gibson has been his favorite target, catching 14 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdown to complement Dwayne Barnett's three scores on 46 rushes for 210 yards.

Devonta Jones is the leading wide receiver with eight catches for 145 yards and two scores.

The Gulf Coast defense played much better last week, with fewer misalignments and missed assignments. That will be important against an opponent like East Central.

"We have to continue to build an identity," Huff said. "When we're on the same page and doing our job, we have a chance to be successful."

GAME #4

Who: MGCCC (1-2) at East Central (1-2)

When: Thursday, Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Bailey Stadium, Decatur

Online: Watch at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/74en3fePfBT

Listen: SuperTalk Mississippi 103.1 FM or online at http://livestream.com/BulldogLIVE/events/6377790

THE SERIES 

Overall: Gulf Coast leads 51-15-2

First Meeting: 1931

Last Meeting (Sept. 10, 2015): MGCCC 30, East Central 14

Streak: MGCCC has won the last 13 meetings

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