The Mississippi Delta Community College football team was looking to close out the 2019 season on a high note with two consecutive victories to end the campaign, but came up just short, dropping a 24-19 decision at the hands of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville on Thursday evening.
Thursday's outcome moved the records for both teams to 3-6 overall to wrap up the 2019 season.
Patrick Jackson (Columbus) put the Trojans on the board first, when he scored from 37 yards out for the score on the opening possession with 13:50 left in the opening quarter. The point after from Spencer Romero (Brookhaven) was no good and the score was 6-0 in favor of MDCC.
The Wildcats would then reel off 24 consecutive points to take a 24-6 lead with 10:41 left in the third quarter after touchdown runs from T.J. Wash and D.D. Griffin and a field goal from Gayden Hence, but the Trojans would make a furious push in the second half to cut the score to a five-point lead for PRCC.
Delta quarterback Jordan Gilleylen (Tupelo) would throw touchdown passes to Ranauldrick Murrell (Forest) and Lebarron Jones (Mobile, Ala.), and after a point after attempt that was good and a two-point conversion that was no good, it was a 24-19 ballgame. MDCC had an opportunity to score the go-ahead touchdown on the game's final possession, but the Wildcats intercepted a Gilleylen pass with just under a minute remaining.
Gilleylen finished the contest 16-29 for 220 yards, two touchdowns and one interception through the air, while the offensive duo of Jackson and Jones were able to continue their remarkable consistency, as they had done all season. Jackson had 16 carries for 105 yards and one rushing touchdown, while Jones had eight catches for 129 yards and one touchdown.
Kyle Cass (Mobile, Ala.) saved his best defensive effort for the final game, as the sophomore defensive back had 11 tackles and two pass breakups and was helped out by the likes of KeShaun Blackmon (Byram), who finished with six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.