BOONEVILLE — Last week against Holmes, Mississippi Gulf Coast kicker Dylan Wasson finished empty handed and went 0-2. On Thursday, he delivered the final blow to avoid a road upset.
Wasson finished 3/4, including the go ahead field goal as the No. 6 Bulldogs escaped with an 18-16 victory over the Northeast Mississippi Community College Tigers.
Both squads failed to get going offensively, but Cam Thomas led the Bulldogs with 94 yards on 19 carries. Xavier Evans provided the game’s only offensive touchdown for Gulf Coast while also adding 55 yards on six touches. Defensively, Mike Smith led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles including one for loss. As a unit, Gulf Coast started hot and snuffed out multiple touchdown opportunities, ultimately giving them a chance to win late.
The first half was a tale of two quarters, with Gulf Coast taking advantage of numerous mistakes early on. The Bulldogs took advantage of a short field after recovering a fumble on the Tiger 23- yard line. Dylan Wasson drew first blood with a field goal from 40 yards out, giving MGCCC a 3- 0 lead with 11:22 left in the opening quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Northeast’s Khi Holiday fielded a kickoff drifting out of bounds and ran out of bounds at the one yard line. In the shadow of the goal post, the Bulldogs blew up the backfield for a safety, adding two more points to a 5-0 Gulf Coast lead just under five minutes into the game.
Following three consecutive three and outs, Xavier Evans gave Gulf Coast the first and only offensive touchdown of the night on the goal line. Following the PAT, Gulf Coast held a 12-0 lead late in the first quarter. Defensively, the Bulldogs limited Northeast to just one first down in the first 15 minutes of play.
The Tigers looked to take advantage of a interception by Jamarcus Smith to close out the first quarter, but Gulf Coast held their ground for three consecutive plays, forced a third down fumble, and recovered the football on in the shadow of their own goal post. However, Northeast got their touchdown anyways a few plays later. Philip Short threw under pressure and threw it right to Scott Norphlet, who took it into the end zone and cut Gulf Coast’s lead 12-7 with 10:46 left in the first half.
The Tigers carried that momentum into the next Bulldog drive by forcing a turnover on downs nearing the red zone. Northeast proceeded to engineer their best drive of the half, but had to settle for a short, 18-yard field goal by John Ellis Murrah. Gulf Coast’s lead was suddenly trimmed down to 12-10, just over three minutes left until halftime. Short would again make a mistake with his second interception to Tony Washington. Putt went on to put Murrah in position for a second field goal attempt from 37 yards out. With three timeouts left, MGCCC head coach Jack Wright iced Murrah three consecutive times.
Murrah delivered regardless to give Northeast a 13-12 lead going into the locker room. After a few three-and-outs to start the third quarter, Murrah added three more points with 4:54 left in the third quarter following a Tony Washington fumble recovery. The NEMCC kicker continued his perfect night, extending Northeast’s lead 16-12. The Tigers continued their defensive pressure stemming from the second quarter to force a punt and give Murrah yet another chance for three.
Murrah’s perfect night would end with a 40 yarder that bounced off the right upright on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Gulf Coast strung together a pair of nice in the minutes that followed, but had to rely on Wasson to get three points once again. Wasson delivered from 35 yards out to trim Northeast’s lead to just one, 16-15 with 8:23 left in the contest. Following a third down drop, it looked as if the Bulldogs were going to drive down the field with a pair of first downs. However, penalties would drive them backwards and force them to punt. With three timeouts in their back pocket, Gulf Coast’s defense forced a three-and-out and then made the play of the night. A blocked punt would give the Bulldogs prime field position on Northeast’s 13-yard line, under two minutes left to play.
With 58 seconds left, Wasson delivered the 25 yard field goal that gave Gulf Coast the lead.
Jashon Baker followed that up with an interception to put the game on ice.
The Bulldogs return to Perkinston for their 2021 home and South Division opener next Thursday as they take on Pearl River Community College. Meanwhile, Northeast will face Hinds Community College in their third straight home contest this coming Thursday.
Jared Redding is a senior journalism major at the University of Mississippi and a lifelong native of Oxford, Miss. Jared has previously served with SES Mississippi and currently contributes to the Oxford Eagle and HottyToddy.com.
