Bulldogs fall in North Division opener to East Miss.

RIDGELAND --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs fell here Thursday in the MACCC North Division opener to the East Mississippi Community College Lions, 45-9.

Holmes falls to 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in the North. Holmes travels to Coahoma on Saturday at 2 p.m. in another North Division contest.

East Mississippi went up 7-0 with 5:27 left in the first on a passing touchdown and extra point. The Lions then scored a rushing touchdown and went up 14-0 after the extra point with 12:38 left in the second. The lead increased to 21-0 with 5:46 left in the second on another passing touchdown and extra point.

The Bulldogs then got on the scoreboard when Philip Short connected with Jarvis Rush on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Luke Moffett's extra point make the score 21-7 with 3:35 left in the second quarter.

East Mississippi scored on a passing touchdown with 1:09 left in the first half to go up 28-7 after the extra point.

The Bulldogs got the only points in the third when Vontrez Rush blocked a Lion punt and it sailed out of the back of the end zone for a safety to make the score 28-9.

The Lions added three scores in the fourth on three passing touchdowns and extra points to end the scoring at 45-9.

Short ended the game 25-of-43 for 290 yards and two interceptions. The leading receiver was Kerrick Ross with six catches for 92 yards. A.J. Davis IV had six catches for 66 yards and Jahiem Shack had six catches for 55 yards.

Reid Pulliam had 12 tackles including one sack and one tackle for loss. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Celeycan Hill and Jodie Williams each had nine tackles. Chris Walley and Miguel Evans each had a sack. Walley had 1.5 tackles for loss and Evans had one while Yaphet Hearn, Lequan Robinson and Quintin Talley each had one tackle for loss and Commondre Cole had .5 tackles for loss. Hearn added an interception and return of 13 yards.