Bulldogs fall in MACCC opener

SCOOBA --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs jumped out early in the first quarter but fell here to the East Mississippi Community College Lions, 65-17.

Holmes, now 2-1 and 0-1 in the MACCC, faces Coahoma at 6:30 p.m. in Goodman Thursday night. You can watch at holmesccmedia.com/cardinal-channel or listen on the Bulldog Football Radio Network.

The Bulldogs scored with 12:21 left in the first when Lonnie Ratliff IV found Deion Smith in the endzone from 19 yards out. Jalen Ballard's kick was good, and Holmes led 7-0.

The Bulldogs added three more points in the first when Ballard nailed a 22-yard field goal.

East Mississippi put up three scores in the first to lead 27-10 after one quarter.

Holmes added seven more in the second quarter when Ratliff found Smith again, this time from 44 yards out. Ballard's kick was good. East Mississippi scored 12 points in the second quarter to lead 39-17 at the break.

East Mississippi put up 20 points in the third and six in the third to round out the scoring.

Ratliff finished the game 19-of-33 for 262 yards. Smith was the leading receiver with eight catches for 156 yards. Leading rushing was Deriaun Townsend with 49 yards on five carries. Joe Moss had 40 yards on eight carries.

Zyonn Mayes finished with 11 tackles while Jalon Townes had 10. The Bulldog had six TFLs (Townes, one; Maxton Woodward, two; Jordan Gowdy, one; Corion Mathis, one; and Jeremy Robertson, one). Commondre Cole and Lance Carson added a blocked PAT.