Cardiac kids overcome sluggish start to beat Pearl River, 38-36

FULTON, Miss. – Despite a sluggish first half, the ICC football team held on through a wild finish to earn a 38-36 win over Pearl River Community College on Military Appreciation Night.

Pearl River (2-3, 1-1 MACJC South) scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut the Indians (2-3, 1-1 MACJC North) lead to 38-36 with 1:32 left in the game. After a PRCC timeout, the Wildcats' two-point pass was deflected by Quinshay Heard (Hamilton) to help preserve the Indians' lead.  

The Wildcats got the ball back at their own 40 yard line with 1:29 on the clock after a perfectly executed onside kick and found themselves in a fourth-and-six situation from the Indians' 40 with 30 seconds to play after a tackle for a loss by Jarvis Hayes (Slocomb, AL).

Hayes had 10 tackles on the night with 2 sacks and a tackle for a loss of 7 yards.

After a Pearl River timeout, Que Lott (Grenada) and A'Tarius Moore (Calhoun City) sacked Markevion Quinn allowing the Indians to kneel their way to the two-point victory.

Trailing 24-14 with 7:19 left in the third quarter, Caleb Comer (Caledonia) connected on a 39-yard field goal before De'Sean Dinkins (Warner Robins, GA) scored on a 2-yard run to tie the game at 13:12 mark of the fourth quarter.

Comer was 1 of 2 on field goals and made all 5 extra point attempts.

After a Lott interception, the Indians retook the lead on a 10-yard pass from Dan Ellington (Olive Branch) to Terry Williams (Southaven). The Wildcats answered on a 1-yard keeper by Quinn but a missed PAT opened the door for more late-night drama in Fulton.

Ellington scored on a 5-yard run and Comer connected on the extra point to put the Indians up 38-30 with 3:19 left in the game.

Offensively, the Indians overcame a sluggish first half to total 446 yards of offense.

Kadarius Forside (West Point) rushed for a season-high 87 yards on 13 carries to help the Indians total a season-best 186 rushing yards. Ellington complete 19 of 25 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Malik Honeycutt (Tallahassee, FL) had 4 catches for 63 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown. Christian Saulsberry (Southaven) hauled in 3 receptions for 48 yards with a 36-yard score. Williams finished the night with 48 yards and a touchdown on 6 catches.

Defensively, ICC gave up 422 yards (213 rushing; 209 passing) to the Wildcats.

Devan Hollins (Southaven) led the Indians with 12 tackles. Lott added 9 tackles with a sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss to his interception. Tyrese Quinn (Calhoun City) returned an interception 16 yards and had a pair of tackles for the Indians.

The Indians will step back in division play when they host rival Northeast Mississippi Community College next Thursday. The Tigers picked up a 27-10 win at Coahoma Community College (1-4, 0-2 MACJC North) to improve to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the North. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 at Eaton Field.

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