Pearl River football battles back at Hinds, but loses in overtime

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director

RAYMOND, Miss. — The Pearl River football team showed some fight Thursday night by battling back from 20 points down to force overtime against Hinds but lost a heartbreaker 34-27.

"We didn't play well enough and didn't coach well enough," head coach Seth Smith said. "The fight was there for our kids, but it's hard to beat anyone if you get down 27-7. Their coaches had a good plan, and their players executed."

Hinds (2-6 overall; 2-3 MACCC South) scored on its opening drive of the night and needed just one play to get it done. A handoff to the Eagle running back resulted in a 62-yard rushing touchdown.

Pearl River was forced into a punt on the following drive. Hinds drove deep into PRCC territory before heaving a pass toward the endzone. Jadarrius Gordon (Canton) came flying in and picked off the pass to give PRCC possession at its own2-yard line.

Although the offensive drive started deep in Wildcat territory, they embarked on an impressive 10-play, 98-yard drive to even things up. After dinking and dunking down the field, Kabe Barnett (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) faked a handoff and bounced around the right side for a 42-yard touchdown run, 7-7.

Hinds hit on the big play again three plays later, connecting for a 63-yard touchdown pass on a free play. The ensuing point after attempt was no good, and the Eagles led 13-7. 

HCC carried the 13-7 lead into the break and tacked on another touchdown on its opening drive of the second half, going 70 yards on six plays, 20-7. PRCC soon found itself down 27-7 following another Hinds rushing touchdown.

Pearl River turned to Ian González (Mexico City, Mexico; St. Stanislaus) in the second half, and the freshman provided the team with an immediate spark. He promptly pushed the team straight down the field before capping off the 11-play, 72-yard drive with a 5-yard passing touchdown to Javonta Caldwell (Laurel), 27-13. 

Needing a big play on defense, PRCC's Jalen Anderson (Slidell, La.) was there to provide it. The Eagles handed the ball off and attempted to go up the middle. The freshman met the running back at the line of scrimmage, ripped the ball from his hands and scampered into the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown return. The touchdown brought PRCC within seven after Morgan Craft's (Picayune) extra-point, 27-20.

Pearl River's defense stood tall again on the ensuing drive, forcing a three-and-out by the Eagles and taking over on its own 20-yard line. With the legs of González and Shadamien Williamson (Waynesboro; Wayne County), PRCC pushed the ball deep into HCC territory. Standing at the Eagle 12-yard line, González executed the read option to perfection. The Eagle defense bit on the fake handoff, and González weaved his way around the left side for the score, tying the game with just over three minutes left in the game.

Pearl River's defense forced the Eagles to punt once more during regulation but couldn't move the football on offense to send the game to overtime locked at 27-27.

On the third play of overtime, HCC connected on a 22-yard touchdown catch to push ahead 34-27. The Wildcats had an opportunity to respond and moved the ball all the way down to the Hinds 1-yard line. A false start penalty pushed the Wildcats back, and they couldn't get into the endzone following it, dropping the contest 34-27.

BY THE NUMBERS

González finished 8-for-14 for 87 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also rushed for 50 yards and a score. Before leaving the game due to injury, Barnett was 10-for-14 for 51 yards through the air and was PRCC's leading rusher on the ground with 72 yards and a score on 12 carries.

Williamson finished with 57 yards on 12 attempts.

Caldwell led PRCC in catches with five for 30 yards. Howard Kinchen (Lafayette, La.; Patterson) led the team in receiving yards with 39 on three receptions.

AJ Prim (Tylertown; Foley) led the team in tackles with 11 total. He also had a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss. Anderson had a monster night for PRCC. He finished with eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and one defensive touchdown.

NEXT UP

Pearl River will have an opportunity to end the year on a high note next week as rival Jones College comes to Dobie Holden Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

TUNE IN

All Pearl River football games are livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel from their app stores.

Games can also be heard at WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.

TICKETS

Tickets for Pearl River home games are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/tickets. Single-game tickets are $10 if purchased in advance while tickets purchased on gameday are $13. All-sport passes are on sale and are $123. The pass grants entry to all PRCC regular season competitions.  

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).