DECATUR – Trent Howell (George County) was a force for No. 11 Jones College here Thursday night at Bailey Stadium/Warrior Field.
Howell rushed 21 times for 129 yards and four touchdowns to spark the Bobcats to a 38-7 victory over East Central.
The victory improves Jones to 3-1 overall, 2-0 in the MACCC South Division. ECCC drops to 1-3 and 0-2.
Jones led 24-0 in the second quarter and dominated the game statistically.
The Bobcats had 24 first downs, 240 yards rushing, 166 yards passing and 406 yards of total offense. ECCC was limited to nine first downs (two in the first half), 69 yards rushing, 86 yards passing and just 155 yards of offense.
Quarterback Brax Garrison (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) completed 10-of-21 passes for 101 yards. Isaiah Atkins (Harrison Central) had three catches with Marlon Lindsey Jr. (West Jones), Houston Johnson (Pascagoula), Justin Campbell (Johns Creek, Georgia) and Harrison Knight (Foley, Alabama) having two receptions apiece.
D.J. Cloyd (Columbia) and Cartize Booth (Bay Springs) each had five tackles with Cloyd credited with half a sack. Lorenzo Smith (Velma Jackson) and Mason Jenkins (West Jones) each had a sack with Cloyd and Zecheriah Parodi (Scott Central) each having half a sack.
Tyreke Snow (Newton), Smith and Jenkins each had a TFL and Cloyd, Adarius Haynes (Oak Grove), Parodi, Josh Brown (Columbia), DK Jenkins (St. Martin) and Jeremiah Moore (Daleville, Alabama) each had half a sack. Daishun Scott (Greenville Christian) had a pass interception and Bart Edmiston Jr. (Ocean Springs) and Marquis Robinson (Milton, Florida) had fumble recoveries.
The Bobcats set the tone quickly by scoring on their first drive.
Jones took the opening kickoff and went 58 yards in nine plays with Howell scoring on a 3-yard run. Edmiston's kick made it 7-0 with 10:50 to play in the first quarter.
Two possessions later, Jerry Johnson Jr. (Pearl) returned an ECCC punt 17 yards and put the Bobcats in great field position at the Warrior 28-yard line.
Three plays later, Howell scored on a 2-yard run and Edmiston's PAT made it 14-0 with 4:03 to play in the first quarter.
On its next possession, Jones went 28 yards in seven plays with Edmiston booting a career-long 48-yard field goal with 14:49 to play in the opening half to make it 17-0.
Late in the first half, Jones moved 59 yards in nine plays. Howell scored on a 3-yard run and Edmiston's extra point made it 24-0 with 44 seconds to play in the second quarter.
The Warriors would then get their only touchdown of the night came courtesy of a turnover.
Garrison was hit trying to pass, fumbled and Tony Deloach returned it eight yards for a score. Cade Mangum's extra point made it 24-7 with 9:51 left in the third quarter.
The Bobcats would put together their best drive of the night, marching 71 yards in 13 plays and utilizing 7:05 off the clock. On a fourth and goal play, Parodi took the snap in JC's short-yardage formation and handed the ball off to Howell who scored from a yard out. Edmiston's PAT made it 31-7 with 12:58 to play in the fourth quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, ECCC's Tavion Evans returned it 38 yards, was hit by Dontavious Howard (Oak Grove), fumbled and Edmiston recovered at the Bobcat 36.
Jones then moved 64 yards in eight plays with Omar Johnson (Columbia) getting into the end zone on a 10-yard run. Edmiston's conversion ended the scoring with 9:25 remaining.
The Bobcats return home next week to meet Hinds in a 7 p.m. game on Oct. 5. The Eagles defeated Pearl River 24-21 in overtime on Thursday to improve to 2-2 overall, 2-0 in the division. The game will air on JCJC.TV and WLAU-FM, 99.3, SuperTalk Laurel with Luke Johnson and Lee Roberts on the call.
The Warriors will travel to Southwest on Oct. 5.
