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RAYMOND - Hinds Community College Eagle Football overcame a 28 point deficit to knock off #5 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College 42-37 Thursday evening.

The game came down to the wire with the Eagles down one point and the offense was threatening in the red zone. Tabashi Thomas (Douglasville, Ga.) then reeled in a miraculous 15-yard touchdown grab from the arm of BeSean McCray (Orlando, Fla.).

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs jumped out to a 24-point lead on three touchdowns and one field goal. 

"I told these guys we have to stick to together as a family," head coach Larry Williams. "It goes a long way when our team plays together," Williams said.

The scoring started when freshman placekicker Ben Duncan (Florence) split the uprights on a 36-yard field goal, cutting the Bulldog lead to 24-3. But, the Bulldogs answered quick with a 65-yard touchdown strike from Phillip Short to KT Hicks.

On the ensuing possession, the Eagles started clawing back into the ball game. The Eagle offense went three plays for 57 yards, capped off by a Cedric Phillips (Vicksburg) eight-yard run. With 11:58 left in the half, 31-9 was the score.

The Eagle defense then forced a three and out. Picking right up where it left off, the Eagle offense went straight down the field and scored on 15-yard run by freshman running back Jeffrey Pittman (Taylorsville), his first touchdown of the season. The score was now 31-16 in favor of the Bulldogs.

In order to cut into the Bulldog lead more, the Eagles need a spark. Sophomore defensive back Emahd Dabney (Jackson) then picked off Phillip Short in the endzone to give the ball back to the Eagle offense.

After the pick, the Eagle offense marched down the field for another touchdown. This score was a 44-yard strike from BeSean McCray to Tabashi Thomas. Thomas' touchdown reception was one of two game-changing scores for the sophomore wide-out. The score after the Ben Duncan extra point was 31-23 Bulldogs.

No further damage was done by either team. The score remained 31-23 in favor of Gulf Coast at the half.

After both teams traded punts, Hinds drove eight plays for 80 yards, capped off by a one-yard run by Jeffrey Pittman. The two-point try was no good, leaving the score at 31-29.

A big stop then came for the Eagle defense when they forced a three and out. Hinds was only down one score with 7:51 left in the game. Jeffrey Pittman then cashed in his third touchdown of the contest when he scored from 67-yards out. Pittman had a career night with 11 carries for 133 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles had their first lead of the ball game 36-31

After another three and out by the Eagle defense, Tabashi Thomas muffed a punt, giving the ball back to Gulf Coast. The Muffed punt return lead to a 30-yard field goal Dylan Wasson to cut the Eagle lead to 36-34 with 52 seconds left in the third quarter.

At the 12:50 mark, the Eagle offense turned the ball over on downs. This turnover lead to another field goal by Wasson, this one was from 26-yards out. Gulf Coast had the one-point lead with 6:12 left in the game.

Coming down to the wire, the Hinds defense forced another three and out, giving the ball back to the offense with 1:07 left in the game. 

Hinds then went 69 yards on six plays to take the lead on a touchdown pass from BeSean McCray to Tabashi Thomas. Thomas finished with five catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns. 

With seven seconds left in the game, the Bulldogs hail mary fell incomplete at the final horn to give the Eagles the 42-37 win.

"Down 31-3, our guys stayed resilient," offensive coordinator Kelly Murphy said. "We told them to chip away at the lead and execute better in the second half. We are pleased with the overall effort, but we need to get ready for next week," Murphy said.

Other top performers:
Houston Smith (Flowood) - 6 punts, 221 yards, 36.8 avg.
BeSean McCray - 17-32 for 300 yards, 2 TD's
Jaylen Knight (Hattiesburg) - 7 tackles
Stefon Smith (Indianola) - 7 tackles
Jalen Wells (Forest) - 7 tackles, 4 solo, 3 assists, 2 TFL, 1 fumble recovery

Up next for the Eagles is an away game against Jones College on Thursday, September 30. The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at Sim Cooley Field in Ellisville. 
 
Fans will be able to watch Hinds football games live here: https://hindsccsports.net/channel-1/
 
You can also follow @HindsCC_FB for live in-game updates.