RAYMOND – In their fourth home game in the month of September, the Hinds Community College football team (2-3 overall, 2-1 conference) fell to fifth-ranked Jones College (5-0 overall, 3-0 conference) 31-24 in Raymond despite overcoming 24 points.
 
"We need to work on making sure we play our best out of the gate," said head coach Larry Willams. "We played how we are supposed to play in the second half, but we need to make sure we don't dig ourselves a hole early."
 
After being down by 24 points in the second half, the Eagles managed to overcome the deficit and tie the game in the fourth quarter.
 
The Bobcats struck first and continued scoring as they racked up 21 first half points to take a 21-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Jones opened up the second half scoring with a field goal of their own from 38-yards out to push their lead to 24-0.
 
The comeback for the Eagles started on their next possession when Ranson Oakes (Raymond) found Kaleb Mosley (Louisville) in the back of the end zone from nine yards out. Tonight's game was Oakes' first start under-center in an Eagle uniform.
 
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 24-7 in favor of Jones.
 
The Eagle defense came up huge when they forced a Bobcat safety early in the fourth quarter. Teaming up on the take-down was Jaylan Ware (Starkville) and Da'Vonta Jackson (Greensboro, Ala.). Jones was forced to kick from their own 20-yard line, which set up Jerrell Boyd (Lexington) with a 31-yard return to put the Eagle offense in good field position.
 
Hinds then went six plays for 47 yards and took 2:22 off the clock and scored on a Jeffrey Pittman (Taylorsville) three-yard touchdown. Pittman's number was called on the two-point conversion, which he punched-in to bring Hinds within one score.
 
Jones started their next possession on their own 25-yard line. On the first play of their drive, the Eagle defense forced their first turnover of the game when Da'Vonta Jackson recovered a fumble at the Jones 17. Hinds would tie the game two plays later when Pittman scored from one yard out. Louie Gatlin's (Jackson) extra point was good, leaving the scored tied at 24.
 
The Eagle defense was able to force a punt on the ensuing possession, but their offensive drive stalled, giving the ball back to Jones. A big 34-yard return for the Bobcats set them up with great field position where they scored two plays later to re-take the lead.
 
The Bobcats would kneel to run out the clock and secure the 31-24 conference victory over Hinds.
 
Top Performers
 
Ranson Oakes – 12-26 for 76 yards, 1 TD
Jeffrey Pittman – 24 rushes for 134 yards, 2 TD
Ben Duncan (Florence) – 4 punts for 166 yards, 41.5 average, 45 long
Da'Vonta Jackson – 6 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 FR
Trevell Vivians (Philadelphia) – 3 total tackles, 1.5 TFL
Stemarion Edwards (Hollendale) – 9 total tackles, 1 TFL, 3 pass breakups
Khiry Gee (Starkville) – 8 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pass breakup
 
Up Next
 
The Eagles are on the road next week when they head to Summit to take on Southwest Mississippi Community College for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. Fans can watch the game here or listen via radio on 94.3 FM/1240 AM.