WESSON – Take it straight from Co-Lin strong safety Jordan Hunt.Don’t overlook the Southwest Mississippi Community CollegeBears.

The South Division rivalry kicks off at 6:30 Thursday night inHurst Stadium.

How is Co-Lin preparing for Thursday’s game?

“We are taking it day by day,” answered Jordan, a freshman fromMeadville. “Southwest is pretty good so we can’t overlookthem.”

In the 20-14 win over Jones County, Jordan (6-1, 215) led theWolfpack with 11 tackles, one sack and a key, fourth quarterinterception that killed a Bobcat rally.

Jordan said Southwest quarterback Mardavian Martin (5-11, 158, so.)and running back Tray Bateaste (5-8, 237, so.) “look prettygood.”

Co-Lin (4-0, 2-0), ranked No. 14 and sharing first place in theSouth Division with Gulf Coast, is fresh from a 20-14 win overJones County Junior College. Southwest (2-2, 0-2) still is huntingits first South Division win after losing 51-21 to No. 1 nationallyranked Gulf Coast.

Co-Lin head coach Glenn Davis expressed his respect for the Bears.”Southwest is an improved football team. They are playing hard.Offensively, they are doing a lot of things.”

Davis said turnovers derailed the Bears in their 30-point loss toGulf Coast. “They turned it over and got in a buzz saw.”

Davis said Martin “does a good job for them. He has really run theball well. You have to play close attention to him. He can make youmiss in the open field. He’s a good football player.”

Martin, from Milbrook, Ala., has completed 17 of 35 passes for 322yards and two touchdowns. He’s been intercepted twice. He playeddefensive back as a freshman.

Bateaste (5-8, 237, so.), from Amite County, had 159 yards rushingagainst Gulf Coast. On the season he has gained 279 yards andscored three TDs.

Defensively, Southwest runs a 3-3 stack. “That’s a little differentscheme than what we’ve been seeing,” said Davis. “We have had tolearn where to put our hats.”

Southwest’s defense is anchored by preseason All-American defensiveback J.D. Ratliff (5-8, 163), a sophomore from Tylertown.

Cornelius Lee (5-11, 200, so.), a linebacker from Tylertown, ismaking a lot of tackles. Lee has 20 tackles, including 13 solostops.

Lineman Marty Stadom (6-2, 230, so.) of Palm Beach, Fla., is aforce at defensive end.

The Bears are under the direction of Charles Anthony who is in hisfifth season at the helm. He has an overall record of 17-22.

Southwest ranks third in the league in rushing offense, averaging209.3 yards per game. Co-Lin’s defense ranks first against the run,allowing 72 yards per game.

“Our players are working hard in practice,” said Davis. “We have tobe more focused in practice.”

In the win over Jones County, the Wolfpack howled to a 20-0halftime lead and then hung on for the victory. Quarterback PercyTurner passed 15 yards to Fred Fuller and ran six yards for anotherscore. Titus Mobley plunged six yards for the other TD.

Anthony said Mobley is “one of the best rushers in the state.Co-Lin has three runners who are pretty good.”

On the season, Mobley has rushed for 366 yards and three TDs.Turner has completed 48 of 92 passes for 627 yards and nineTDs.

On defense, Calvin Jones leads Co-Lin with 21 tackles and 16assists. Linebacker Joe Mays has 20 tackles and 19 assists.