Bulldogs fall in season opener, 35-10
BOONEVILLE --- The Raymond Gross era didn't start off the way he and the Bulldogs wanted as Northeast Community College took advantage of some Bulldog miscues early to pull out a 35-10 win in the 2020 season opener here Thursday night.
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday versus Itawamba in Goodman at 6:30 p.m. You can watch the game live at holmesccmedia.com/white-channel or listen on the Bulldog Radio Network on 101.1 FM, 103.9 FM, 100.1 FM or on breezynews.com.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard first in the first quarter after the Bulldogs mishandled a punt attempt in the end zone, and the Tigers recovered for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and Northeast led 7-0 with 4:55 left in the first.
The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when sophomore kicker Blake Backel blasted a 40-yard field goal through the uprights with 11:09 to play before halftime.
Northeast added another score on a 29-yard touchdown pass just before halftime to go up 14-3 after the extra point was good.
The lead grew to 21-3 with 12:56 to play in the third after the Tigers picked up a Bulldog fumble at the Holmes 20 and raced it in for the score. The extra point was good.
The Tigers added another passing touchdown with 6:58 to play in the third from 64 yards out. The extra point made the score 28-3 after the extra point was good.
Holmes got its final points of the game when sophomore running back Walter Ivory raced in from 14 yards. Backel's extra point made it 28-10 with 13:10 left in the game.
Northeast's final score came with 11:35 to play on a passing touchdown from 15 yards out. The extra point ended all scoring at 35-10.
Devontaye Bankston led the Bulldogs in rushing with 94 yards on 19 carries while Walter Ivory added 49 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.
Freshmen linebackers Daykian Edwards and Jordan Milton led the Bulldogs in tackles with six each. Milton added two tackles for loss while Edwards had one. Colin Hunt and Edwin Herard each had five tackles. Jordan Rupert, Devin Chambers and Cedric Tooson each had four tackles with Chambers adding a tackle for loss.
Photo by Michael H. Miller, NEMCC