By Steve Diffey/Special to the Star-Herald
Itawamba`s Bret Jefcoat kicked a 29-yard field goal with 15.3 seconds left in the game to lift the Indians over the Holmes Community College Bulldogs 35-34.
With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 1-5 on the season. The Bulldogs travel to Moorhead Thursday night to play the Mississippi Delta Community College Trojans at 6 p.m. The game can be heard on 101.1 FM and 103.9 FM and on breezynews.com.
The Indians scored nine points in the last 4:25 seconds to pull out the victory over the Bulldogs.
Itawamba took advantage of an early Bulldog turnover after the Indian punt hit a Bulldog on its way to the ground. The Indians recovered at the 30. Jefcoat then found Demarcus Watts on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Jefcoat`s kick was blocked, and the Indians led 6-0 with 13:52 left in the first quarter.
Holmes answered the Indian score with one of their own with quarterback Dex Hopkins hitting Simon Collier on an 8-yard touchdown pass. The extra point by Jonathan Smith was blocked and the game was tied with 8:14 left in the first.
Itawamba scored with 49.1 seconds remaining in the first when Jefcoat connected with Marti Shelby on a one-yard touchdown pass. The kick was blocked making the score 12-6 with the Indians leading.
The Indians scored early in the second quarter as Watts caught a 59-yard touchdown pass from Jefcoat. Jeremy Jones caught a two-point pass from Ty Ferrell to make the score 20-6 with 12:34 left in the first half.
Holmes answered the score as Hopkins raced in from five yards out. Smith`s kick was good to make the score 20-13 with 8:10 left in the first half.
Itawamba scored late in the first half with 21.1 seconds on five-yard touchdown pass from Jefcoat to Shelby. The run failed ending first half scoring at 26-13.
Holmes then reeled off three scores to start the second half. The first was a four-yard run by Hopkins with 11:23 left in the third. Harry Peoples scored from a yard out with 4:52 left in the third. Hopkins then scored from 18 yards out with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter. Smith`s three extra points were good giving the Bulldogs the 34-26 lead.
Itawamba`s Jefcoat sneaked in from a yard out with 4:25 left in the game. The two-point pass was no good giving the Bulldogs the 34-32 lead before the Indians drove down for the winning field goal as time was running out.
Hopkins carried the ball 12 times for 77 yards and three scores. He finished 15-of-22 for 270 yards and a touchdown.
