By Mark H. Stowers
Riding the strength of the "bend but don't break" defense all season, the Trojans (1-6 overall, 1-4 MACCC North) found out what happens when the defense can't bend any further. A 58-7 homecoming loss to Holmes Community College (5-2 overall, 3-2 MACCC North) on Thursday was tough to handle.
"They broke a lot," MDCC Head Football Coach Tavares Johnson Sr. said. "We had too many communication breakdowns."
Indeed. Three plays in and the Bulldogs found paydirt when a receiver was left all alone and scampered 54 yards for the opening score of the game. Holmes would find the end zone two more times in the first half – a three-yard run and a one-yard run on 72- and 53-yard drives for a commanding 21-0 lead.
The Bulldogs would add three more scores in the second quarter taking advantage of turnovers and blocked punts that gave them great field position. With possessions on the MDCC 34, 21 and their own 46-yard lines, the Bulldogs found the end zone each time to increase their lead to 42-0.
The Trojan offense did have one drive that found the end zone. Starting on their own five-yard line late in the second quarter, the Trojans marched 95 yards down the field in eight plays. Sophomore Ja'Kell Allen caught the 10-yard TD pass from freshman Troy Griffin to put six points on the board. The ensuing PAT was blocked and returned for two points by the Bulldogs making the score 44-6.
In the second half, the Bulldogs added a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters and kept the Trojans out of the end zone for the 58-6 win.
The Trojan offense had 12 first downs but were only 3-of-12 on third-down conversions. They totaled 182 yards on 52 plays – 80 yards passing and 102 yards rushing. Griffin was 10-for-22 passing for 80 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown. Sophomore Devon Liddell had three catches for 46 yards. Allen had two catches for 22 yards and the lone Trojan touchdown.
Freshman Tre Brewer had one rush for 36 yards while Griffin had 14 for 33 yards. The Trojan defense gave up 549 yards of offense to Holmes – 413 passing and 136 rushing. Freshman defensive back Darryon Taylor and freshman outside linebacker Cornell Thomas each had six total tackles – four solo and two assists.
The lackluster play by the Trojans was frustrating for Coach Johnson.
"We have a lot of injuries and guys stepping in. A lot of young guys playing who shouldn't be playing," he said. "They make it seem like I don't know what I'm doing or what my coaches are doing. We've got to upgrade our talent. It boils down to the mentality I'm trying to create here. I have to get players that are like-minded like me."
Holmes came out "with a chip on their shoulder and playing like we are supposed to be playing," Coach Johnson explained. "We're not as aggressive as we need to be. We bowed down to Holmes."
Looking for something positive to take from the loss, Coach Johnson noted "I'm always going to find some silver lining. And that is I'm one step closer to purging the roster and getting the players in that fit what we want to do. I feel like I have the right staff in place finally. They are working hard as any staff. I know we're not playing well. I know we're not playing up to the standard the Mississippi Delta football deserves. But there's no one out there who is more committed to building this program than I am. It's a process. All of our starters come out of that freshman class that I inherited. Now my freshman class is getting their feet wet and they've been thrust into action and are learning on the fly. I've got to get more kids in that are like-minded like Troy (Griffin.) Due to injuries, he didn't play a lot in high school and hasn't seen all these mixed coverages. I'm committed to him and he's going to get better."