Ballard hits game winner to lift Holmes to a 26-24 win

GOODMAN --- Freshman placekicker Jalen Ballard nailed four field goals here Thursday night including the game winner from 39 yards out as time expired to give the Holmes Community College Bulldogs the 26-24 North Division win over the Itawamba Community College Indians.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the North Division. Holmes travels to Moorhead Thursday afternoon to play the Mississippi Delta Community College Trojans in another North Division contest.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard with 8:52 left in the first quarter when freshman quarterback John Ford found sophomore receiver Bryceton Spencer on an 8-yard touchdown pass. Ballard's extra point put Holmes up 7-0.

Ballard nailed his first field goal of the night with 4:40 left in the first from 45 yards out to give Holmes the 10-0 lead.

Itawamba then converted a field goal in the early second quarter to make the score 10-3 Holmes. The score remained 10-3 at halftime.

Ballard hit his second field goal from 44 yards out with 7:55 left in the third to out Holmes up 13-3.

The Bulldogs scored again minutes later when Ford connected with K.D. Rancifer from 19 yards out. Ballard's kick put Holmes up 20-3 with 6:51 left in the third.

Itawamba answered the score with 6:30 left on a run. The extra point made the score 20-10 with 7:57 left in the game.

The Indians scored again on a rush with 7:57 to make the score 20-17.

Ballard hit his third field goal with 2:04 left to put the Bulldogs up 23-17. This one was from 39 yards out.

Itawamba then scored on a long pass play to get their first lead of the night. The extra point was good, and Itawamba led 24-23 with 1:44 left in the game.

The Bulldogs drove down the field and got into position for Ballard's winning field goal with three seconds left.