No. 4 Gulf Coast too much for the Wolves
Published 10:24 pm Friday, September 27, 2019
- Photo by Cliff Furr Copiah-Lincoln defensive back Jalen Ware (no. 23) and lineman Lawilliam Holmes corral Gulf Coast running back Omni Wells Thursday night in Wesson.
The first Mississippi Gulf Coast touchdown of the night was indicative of how things would go for Copiah-Lincoln in their Thursday night MACJC matchup.
Gulf Coast wide receiver Marquise Bridge was all alone behind the Co-Lin defense and walked into the end zone after a 48-yard pass from quarterback Chance Lovertich. The No. 4 Bulldogs were better in all three phases of the game Thursday as they cruised to a 38-20 win over the No. 11 Wolves in Stone Stadium.
A 75-yard interception return down the Gulf Coast sideline by Jackie Matthews put coach Jack Wright and his team up 24-0 with just over six minutes remaining until halftime.
Co-Lin got on the board with a 52-yard interception return for a score by sophomore Jalen Ware. The Wolves had chances to cut the lead to 10 in the first half and they received the second half kickoff, but turnovers plagued the C-L offense as they committed three in the first half and trailed 24-7 at the half.
The Gulf Coast defense is coached by former Co-Lin coordinator Brett Shufelt and former C-L assistant Clarence McDougal is also a GC defensive assistant. The Bulldogs used middle blitzes and pressure from their ends to give the Co-Lin offensive line problems all night. Co-Lin quarterback Danny Clark finished 14-of-36 passing for 156 yards.
Deondre House led the Gulf Coast rushing attack with 97 yards as the Bulldogs ran for 202 yards as a team.
Co-Lin netted out 106 yards on the ground. The Wolves were 2-of-11 on third down conversions and had seven penalties for 75 yards.
Freshman Hayden Hill led the C-L defense with 12 tackles.
The Wolves are also battling injuries as defensive end Jordan Davis and several other players watched the game in street clothes. Additionally, Co-Lin had wide receiver Kundarrius Taylor and tight end Trenton Tyre leave with injuries against Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coast (5-0) moves to 2-0 in the division and is the lone unbeaten team in the state after No. 3 Northwest was upset 47-41 by Holmes Thursday night. Co-Lin (3-2) still controls their destiny but will need to win out to make the playoffs.
Gulf Coast beat Jones 20-14 last week and still has road games at East Central and Hinds. Co-Lin will look to snap their two-game losing streak when they host East Central (3-2) next week. The Wolves will then play at Hinds before hosting Jones in a homecoming game that will likely decide second place in the division.