Mississippi Gulf Coast defeated MDCC 58-7

PERKINSTON, Miss. (MGCCC Athletics) — No. 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast posted its largest margin of victory in 15 years Thursday, piling up exactly 600 yards of total offense in beating Mississippi Delta 58-7.

The Regulators pitched a shutout, with the Trojans’ only points coming on a fumble return. They also forced a safety.

“It was kind of a different kind of game than I’m used to,” Gulf Coast coach Jack Wright said. “Things kind of came easy, sometimes a little too easy it seemed like. When that happens, you kind of lose your focus on fundamentals. But it was a good game. Anytime you get a win at home, we’re going to take it.”

Royale Shelvy (Fr., Fayette/Jefferson County) caught two passes, both for touchdowns for a total of 129 yards. His 94-yard score from Landon Varnes (So., Brandon/Brandon) tied for the third-longest touchdown pass in school history.

Antwaan Mays (So., Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) had a 72-yard touchdown reception, and Jordan Whittle (So., Seattle, Wash./Lynwood) had a 37-yard score.

Varnes threw all three of those long scores, finishing an astounding 6-of-9 for 252 yards. He also had a 2-yard touchdown run. Backup quarterback Connor Tice ran seven times for 47 yards and a touchdown.

“We come in every game just hoping to dominate,” offensive lineman Omarion Bender said. “We watched a lot of film this week to make sure we knew what they were doing. The quarterback had time to make plays and receivers got open.”

Eight different receivers had catches, and all five running backs had yards, including Connor Brown(Fr., Jackson/Madison Central) who scored a touchdown.

The Regulators held Delta to 65 total yards, an average of 1.3 per play. Taurean Davis (So., Quitman County/DeSoto Central) was the leading tackler with five. Khalil Norwood (Fr., Brandon/Brandon) had two sacks and forced a fumble, and Bryant Ausmer (Fr., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) added 1.5 sacks.

The special teams got into the act, too. Cruz Johnson (Fr., Canton/Canton Academy) blocked a first-quarter punt, scooped it and scored.

“We were just set up for our block,” he said. “I saw an alley, and I hit it. I did everything Coach Wright had been teaching us: execute, go fast, go hard. And it worked out for us.”

Gulf Coast (2-0), which has beaten Delta (0-2) eight straight times, will open MACCC South play next week with a sterner test. The Bulldogs travel to Ellisville to play rival Jones. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“You’re going to be playing a tough opponent every time you go in our division,” Wright said. “The South Division is the toughest division in all of junior college. So, we get that kicked off next week at Jones. There’s not a really a tougher contest that we can look down the road and prepare ourselves for.”