CLINTON – The Hinds Community College Eagle football program captured their first win of the season Thursday night (Sept. 6) with a 31-21 victory over the Mississippi Delta Community College Trojans (MDCC).
Although slated as a home game for the Eagles, the Eagles and Trojans squared off at Robinson-Hale Stadium, an all-turf field, on the campus of Mississippi College. The game was moved there due to the heavy rainfall Hurricane Gordon deposited in Raymond this week.
The Eagles had no problem adjusting though and put a flurry of points on the board early. Freshman running back
Don Ragsdale (Pisgah) got the party started with a six-yard touchdown run to cap off a 92-yard drive with 6:39 remaining in the first quarter. Five minutes later Ragsdale returned to the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead to close out the scoring in the first quarter.
After some quality defensive stands by both teams to start the second quarter, quarterback
Tylan Morton (Griffin, Ga.) found freshman running back
David Abney (Pascagoula) for the 11-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 21-0 with 2:34 left in the first half.
The Trojans threatened with a solid two-minute drill, but Hinds' defensive back
Isaiah Latham (Louisville) stopped it and put an end to the first half when he leaped and intercepted a pass in the end zone.
The Eagles opened up the scoring again in the second half when Morton found wideout
Eric Clark (Kemper) for a 28-yard touchdown pass to bolster their lead to 28-0 with 5:58 left in the third quarter.
Following a Hinds' fumble, the Trojans finally got on the board in the fourth quarter capping of a short 24-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass.
On the subsequent drive, the Eagles were forced to punt. However, Hinds' linebacker
Amos Robinson (Hollandale) gave his offense the ball back after hauling in his second interception of the night. Kicker
Carson Flumm (Crystal Spring) was able to capitalize on the Trojan turnover and connected on a 22-yard field goal to give Hinds a 31-7 lead with just 9:37 left in the game.
The Trojans did not go down without a fight and put up 14 unanswered points. The deficit, however, was just too large to overcome and the Eagles secured the 31-21 victory.
The Hinds' win evened up their overall record to 1-1, while MDCC fell to 0-2 on the season.
Hinds put up 358 yard of total offense (249 passing, 109 rushing) and racked up 24 first downs on the evening. Morton threw for all 249 passing yards and was 22-33 in completions with two touchdowns. Ragsdale led all rushers with 17 carries, 82 yards and two touchdowns.
Hinds defense also stacked up five turnovers including two fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
Hinds football (1-1) will be back in action next Thursday, September 13 at home in Raymond when they open up division play against the Jones County Junior College Bobcats (1-1). Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
