Bulldogs pick up 31-0 win over Pearl River to start the 2023 season

GOODMAN --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs opened the 2023 campaign with a 31-0 win over the Pearl River Community College Wildcats here Thursday.

Holmes, 1-0, hosts East Central at 6:30 p.m. in Goodman. Watch live at holmesccmedia.com/cardinal-channel or listen on the Bulldog Radio Network.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the first quarter when sophomore running back Joe Moss scored from six yards out with 11:02 left. Jalen Ballard's extra point was good giving Holmes the 7-0 lead.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Lonnie Ratliff IV then scampered in from 15 yards out with 11:44 left in the second quarter. Ballard's kick was good, and Holmes led 14-0. The Bulldogs led 14-0 at halftime.

The Bulldogs got a big defensive stop in the third quarter at their own one yard line. On second down, Ratliff connected with sophomore receiver Deion Smith and he took it 99 yards for the touchdown. Ballard's kick was good, and the Bulldogs led 21-0 with 7:47 left in the quarter.

Holmes added another score in the fourth quarter when Ratliff connected with sophomore receiver Bryceton Spencer, and he took it 60 yards for the touchdown. Ballard's kick made it 28-0 with 9:40 left in the game.

The final score came with 3:37 left in the game when Ballard connected on a 41-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs finished with 530 yards of total offense (363 passing/167 rushing). Ratliff finished the game 22-of-34 for 331 yards and two touchdowns. Smith had four catches for 148 yards to lead the Bulldogs. Spencer had two catches for 72 yards and Jahiem Shack had six catches for 71 yards.

Moss had 12 carries for 55 yards while Ratliff had nine carries for 49 yards.

Defensively, the Bulldogs gave up 188 yards (141 passing/47 rushing). Zyonn Mayes led the Bulldogs with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Jalon Townes followed with 10 tackles while Laquan Robinson had nine tackles and a PBU. Commondre Cole had 7.5 tackles (1.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL) while Jordan Gowdy (1 TFL) and Kendorean Russell each had seven tackles. Dtrevion Parker, Ke'Zerrian Wash and Laterrius Haynes each had six tackles while Maxton Woodward (2 QB Hurries) and Chris Walley (2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) each had five tackles.