Pearl River looking for relentless effort at No. 4 Gulf Coast

Dylan Dunaway - PRCC Sports Information Director

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — The Pearl River football team will have its hands full Thursday as it makes the 35-minute drive to Perkinston to take on archrival and fourth-ranked Gulf Coast. For the Wildcats, the key to the matchup is to play with relentless effort on every single snap.

"It's coach-speak, but it's the truth. If you let off any or you fit in the wrong gap, they will score," head coach Seth Smith said. "If you strain every play and fit in the proper gaps, then you give yourself a chance. When you play a team like this — you can't afford to make a mistake. You have to play your tail off on every single down. We need to be relentless."

The Pearl River offense came alive last week against Hinds, scoring two touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of the game. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, HCC walked away with a 24-21 victory in overtime.

"That's what we thought we could be all year. You just hate that it took three games to get to that point," Smith said. "Coach (David) Chatham and the offensive guys had a tremendous game plan. I was really proud of our pass protection. We gave our quarterback time to make the right reads."

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Quarterback Dustin Allison (Pass Christian) is 44-for-78 for 385 yards and two touchdowns this season. Hinds was Allison's best showing of the year as he went 17-for-23 for 179 yards and two scores.

"That was the reason we brought Dustin back," Smith said. "That's what he is. He's an excellent quarterback. Unfortunately, either scheme or protection around him hasn't been great. We brought him back so he could do what he did on Thursday. He gave us an opportunity to win that game."

Kayvon Barnes (Pascagoula) has carved out a role and now leads PRCC in rushing. He has carried the ball 42 times for 196 yards.