MGCCC pounds Northwest 39-14

Running Back Jamal Young gains yardage against Northwest Aug. 28

The 2008 football season for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College began the same way the 2007 campaign started…and for the defending NJCAA National Champion Bulldogs, that’s a good thing.

Freshman quarterback Greg Jenkins threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as No. 3 ranked Gulf Coast whipped Northwest 39-14 Aug. 28 at Senatobia. It was the 13th consecutive win by the Bulldogs dating back to the 2007 season.

“The guys came out and played hard, and I was pleased with their effort,” said Gulf Coast head coach Steve Campbell. “The guys played hard, but we’re not there yet. We made way too many mistakes. It wasn’t mid-season form, so I’m glad we’re not in mid-season.”

On the Bulldogs second offensive series of the game, Jenkins found wideout Kevin Barkley on a 40-yard pass-and-catch to set up the Bulldogs deep in Northwest territory.

Jenkins finished the drive with a 4-yard scoring run to make it 7-0 Gulf Coast.

Gulf Coast (1-0) would cash in just minutes later after a blocked punt and a short touchdown pass from Jenkins to tight end Kevin Helms. Brandon Johnson caught a pass from Josh Nelson after a botched snap on the extra point, and the Bulldogs led 15-0.

In the second quarter, Gulf Coast defensive back Dameon Jackson intercepted a pass by Northwest quarterback Casey Weston and returned it deep into Ranger territory.

Jenkins then found Brett Moncrief on a 37-yard touchdown pass to make it 22-0 Bulldogs.

Northwest then took the ensuing kickoff deep into Gulf Coast territory and answered with a 6-yard TD run by Tijuan Green making it 22-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Dameon Jackson intercepted his second pass of the game to shut down a Ranger drive, and then freshman running back Vic Ballard broke loose on a 40-yard TD scamper to make it 29-7 Gulf Coast.

“It felt good,” Ballard said. “This is my first college football game. We got started early, and then we started rolling after that.”

Another blocked punt by the Bulldog special teams led to a 5-ayrd TD pass from Jenkins to Brandon Johnson making it 36-7.

Northwest scored a fourth quarter touchdown, and NJCAA Pre-Season All-American kicker Sean Brauchle booted a 37-yard field goal for Gulf Coast to make the final 39-14.

Gulf Coast is now 4-1 in season openers under Steve Campbell.

“With all the rain we’ve been having in South Mississippi, we were only able to have one really good scrimmage,” he said. “This was a chance for us to get some good work in. They guys stuck together as a team, and I’m very excited about this win.”

Gulf Coast travels to Itawamba Sept. 4. Bulldog fans can catch all the action on WAOY 91.7 FM. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.