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First year Gulf Coast head coach Steve Campbell knew the 2004 season opener against Mississippi Delta would be a challenge. That turned out to be the case as the Trojans spoiled the Bulldog season opener with a 28-0 victory on Sept. 2 at the Perkinston Campus. It was Gulf Coast’s first season opening loss since 2000. “It’s obvious we have some work to do, but I’ve been here before, right here,” Campbell said. “We now see our problems. We have them on tape and can review them with the players and we can come up with a plan.” Gulf Coast entered the game with a young team, and Campbell allowed many of his newcomers to get their baptism by fire against Delta. Three freshmen from Ocean Springs saw quality playing time in their collegiate debuts. Running back Bernard Seymour made a strong pitch for another start with a solid performance. Former Ocean Springs Greyhounds Josh Jones and Jacob Dykes also saw substantial minutes with Jones at defensive back and Dykes at center.
“I was pleased with Bernard. He had a knee problem in two-a-days. He played really well,” Campbell said. “Dykes played every snap and Jones played a lot on defense. Both have bright futures here and are good young men.” Freshman Chris Goff and Jacob Mizelle of Vancleave anchored the left side of the Gulf Coast offensive line in the 2nd half. Freshman Cornelius Nettles of Moss Point debuted with a first-half fumble recovery for the Bulldogs. “I’m not disappointed in the kids. I’m disappointed in the way I coached the game. We (the coaches) had them thinking about too much, and they couldn’t turn it loose and play with emotion. We’ve got a ways to go. We’re going to get back to work,” Campbell said. Delta jumped out to an early lead when quarterback Jeremy Banks hit wide receiver Ryan Mason on a 27-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. The extra point was no good and it was 6-0 Trojans. Delta took full advantage of a second quarter Bulldog’s fumble and scored on a fourth and goal at the Bulldogs one yard line making it 12-0. The Trojans successfully completed on a two-point conversion making it 14-0. Later in the 2nd quarter, Banks threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Lavarus Giles and Ken Cox scored on a 9-yard run. It was 28-0 Delta at half time. The Bulldog’s defense regrouped in the second half and kept the Trojans out of the end zone.
“If you’re looking for a silver lining, the defense pitched a shutout in the 2nd half,” Campbell said. Thursday’s game at A.L. May Stadium was the first Bulldogs contest played on the newly installed Bermuda grass turf from Mississippi State University. Gulf Coast also sported new home uniforms and helmets with a new logo. Gulf Coast (0-1) next travels to Clarksdale, Mississippi on Saturday, September 11 to take on the Coahoma Tigers. The Bulldogs next home game is Saturday, September 18 when Gulf Coast face former Gautier quarterback Carrio Rudolph and the Holmes Community College Bulldogs.
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 © 2003 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Last Modified: September 3, 2004 5:10 PM Email Webmaster: keith.lee@mgccc.edu |
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