Jones edges Northeast 31-28 in defensive battle at Bobcat Stadium

ELLISVILLE — Jones College defeated Northeast 31-28 Thursday night at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats (2-1) led for most of the game after Delarrius Hayes returned an interception for a touchdown early in the first quarter, giving Jones a 7-0 lead.

Northeast responded with a touchdown drive, tying the game at 7-7. Jones then took a 17-14 lead into halftime, aided by a 26-yard field goal and a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Wyatt Jones and CJ Rush, respectively. Rush has scored seven rushing touchdowns through three games, leading the MACCC, after tallying just two in eight games as a freshman.

Jones pushed its lead to 24-14 early in the third quarter with a quick 62-yard drive finished by Rush’s 6-yard run. Northeast narrowed the gap to 31-28 late in the third after an 80-yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Brody Whittaker to Charles Stevenson. The game remained close into the final minutes, with Northeast threatening again after an 80-yard scoring play that bounced off a Bobcat defender into Charles Stevenson’s hands.

Jones ran out the clock in the final minutes, with quarterback Jevarion Glover running backwards for 51 yards on the last play of the game to end the contest. Jones finished with 409 total yards and 26 first downs, holding possession for nearly 34 minutes. Northeast totaled 422 yards despite running 15 fewer plays, with 155 rushing yards and 267 passing yards from Xae Mayes, who threw three touchdowns and one interception.

Jones’s defense recorded two sacks and intercepted a pass that led directly to the Bobcats’ first touchdown. Arterus Moffett led the team with eight tackles, a breakup, and a blocked kick. The Bobcats will host rival Pearl River next Thursday for the 96th edition of the “Cat Fight.” Jones leads the series 51-42-2 and has won the last nine meetings.

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