By By Shawn Wansley/EMG sports writer
October 19, 2003
POPLARVILLE It was definitely a tale of two halves between the Jones Junior College Bobcats and Pearl River Community College Wildcats here Saturday afternoon.
JCJC led 15-7 at halftime, but Pearl River scored on its first three possessions of the second half and raced past the previously unbeaten Bobcats, 35-21, before a packed Homecoming crowd at sun-drenched Dobie Holden Stadium.
Pearl River has a great football team, they probably should have beaten Hinds earlier this year.
Jones, ranked No. 3 in the latest NJCAA poll, drops to 6-1 overall, 3-1 in the South Division. Pearl River is now 6-1 and 3-1.
The Wildcats racked up 507 yards of offense, including 387 through the air, all by quarterback Anthony Johnson. Larry Kendrick, who plays offense and defense for PRCC, had six catches for 145 yards , Jacob Garber had five catches for 83 yards and Larry Brackins had four catches for 81 yards.
Running back Curtis Hayes rushed 20 times for 104 yards.
Jones finished with 331 yards of offense, including 234 through the air all by quarterback Derek Boykin. Running back Voncarie Owens had 27 rushes for 73 yards. Receiver Michael Johnson had five catches for 102 yards.
Wide receiver Brandon McDonald had four catches for 62 yards and wide receiver Darrell Mitchell had five catches for 33 yards.
The Bobcats started the game off in fine fashion. They took the opening kickoff and marched 64 yards in eight plays. Boykin hit McDonald with a 33-yard touchdown pass. Jordan Dennis added the conversion and Jones led 7-0 with 12:12 left in the first quarter.
Pearl River tied it up on their second possession of the game. They marched 80 yards in seven plays with Johnson hitting Brackins on a 30-yard scoring strike. Greg Bryant's conversion made it 7-7 with 5:18 left in the first quarter.
Jones then took a 9-7 lead with 1:03 left in the first quarter thanks to a safety.
The Bobcats took the free kick and drove from their own 45 to the PRCC 10. On fourth down, Dennis kicked a 27-yard field goal and Jones led 12-7 with 11:30 left in the first half.
It stayed that way until the final seconds of the half. JCJC's Alton McCann picked off a pass at his own 12 and returned it to the Wildcat 45 with nine seconds left in the half. PRCC was penalized 15 yards on a personal foul and Boykin hit McDonald on a 9-yard pass to the 21.
But PRCC came out and quickly grabbed momentum in the second half.