Tough Road Loss to Nationally Ranked Bulldogs, 58-7

By Mark H. Stowers / Photo Credit: Kerry Bass/MGCCC *Presto Stats is having problems and the actual final score is 58-7*

An MACCC road game is always tough. Layer in a nationally ranked opponent - #9 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs and the odds of a win are severely stacked against you. But the games are still played on the field and not on paper. Needless to say, the Trojans found themselves on the losing end of a 58-7 score. Now 0-2 on the season, the Trojans will once again reset and hit the road to take on the Northeast Tigers (2-0).

In Elliston, the Trojans' first possession—a six-play, 12-yard drive—ended with a 51-yard punt by Ceidrick Hunt that pinned the Bulldogs at their own two-yard line. Two quick passing plays for 22 yards and 14 yards, followed by a 35-yard run by Landon Varnes, moved the Bulldogs to the MDCC 27-yard line. Varnes then had a 25-yard carry, followed by two incomplete passes. Varnes's number was called again, and he scored on a two-yard touchdown run, capping the 98-yard drive. The PAT made it 7-0 for MGCCC with 9:51 remaining in the first.

The Bulldog defense then scored as a sack and fumble by MDCC quarterback Caden Clark, which was recovered in the end zone by the Trojans, put the Bulldogs up 9-0. MGCCC's next drive started at midfield and a two-play, 50-yard drive included a 15-yard and a 35-yard pass for the touchdown. The PAT made it 16-0 with 8:11 left in the first quarter. The Trojans could only gain one yard in three plays. Hunt's punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by the Bulldogs' special teams. With 6:58 left in the first quarter, the Trojans trailed 23-0. 

The Trojans then put together their best drive of the season – nine plays for 70 yards, including two Bulldog penalties that kept the drive alive. Caden Clark hit Montclair Brave for a 13-yard pass, and Chance Ross had two rushes of four yards and 31 yards that put the Trojans on the MGCCC three-yard line. Three incomplete passes gave the Trojans fourth and goal at the three. The Trojans went for it on fourth down but were shut down and even fumbled, but a penalty made on the play gave the Trojans one more try, this time fourth and goal at the MGCCC 14-yard line. The Trojans turned it over after a loss of nine yards.

MGCCC picked up a first down but then turned the ball over on a loss of downs at their own 37. MDCC picked up one yard and had to punt, pinning MGCCC at their own two-yard line once again to end the first quarter, down 23-0.

After an incomplete pass and a four-yard rush, Landan Varnes threw a 94-yard pitch-and-catch touchdown to Royale Shelvy, and with the extra point, they took a commanding 30-0 lead with 14:09 remaining in the first half. The teams exchanged possessions, with the Trojans stopping the Bulldogs on a fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line. The Trojans couldn't generate much offense and had to punt from the same spot, giving the Bulldogs excellent field position at their own 38-yard line. From there, MGCCC ran five plays, including a fourth-and-nine at the 16-yard line, culminating in a Conner Tice rush for a touchdown. The extra point extended their lead to 37-0 with 5:33 left in the second quarter. 

The Trojan offense went three and out at their own 25-yard line, but Ceidrick Hunt punted 77 yards to again pin the Bulldogs at their own two-yard line. That sparked the Trojans' defense, which on a second and six forced a Bulldog fumble that was recovered by Trojan Lacoyrius Branch. He ran it in from 12 yards out to give the Trojans their first points of the 2025 season. The PAT was good, cutting the lead to 37-7 with 3:07 left in the first half.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Bulldogs put together a three-play, 66-yard drive capped by a 37-yard TD pass from Connor Tice to Jordan Whittle making the score now 44-7 after the PAT and 1:51 left in the first half. The Trojans drive ran out the remaining time.

The Bulldogs started the second half with a quick two-play, 75-yard drive as Landon Varnes threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Antwann Mays, and with the extra point, they increased their lead over the Trojans to 51-7 with 13:33 remaining in the third quarter, as the clock was running. MGCCC added another score later in the quarter on a 10-play, 90-yard drive, with Connor Brown rushing in from one yard out, giving the Bulldogs a 58-7 lead after the extra point. 

With the clock running non-stop due to the 35 point-plus lead, each team had two drives but neither team put up any points in the fourth quarter for the 58-7 final score.

Statistically, the Trojans had five first downs in the game and ended up with 65 yards of total offense over 49 plays – 38 yards rushing and 27 yards passing. Hunt had nine punts on the night for a 40.4 yard average per punt with his longest being 77 yards.

Trojan quarterback Caden Clark was 6-for-20 for 27 yards, and Evans Schippers was 0-for-2. The Bulldogs' Landon Varnes was 6-for-9 passing for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Connor Tice completed 6-of-14 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. The Trojans' Chance Ross had eight rushes for 60 yards, while Shamane Clark had four runs for 16 yards. 

On defense, Jaquian Payton led the Trojans with 10 total tackles and Lacoyrius Branch had nine.

The Bulldogs will hit the road to face undefeated Jones College next Thursday.