Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
The Mississippi College football team will wrap up 2016 “Homecoming” weekend by hosting Valdosta State Saturday at Robinson-Hale Stadium. Kick-off for the Gulf South Conference contest is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
The Choctaws (2-4, 0-4 GSC) are coming off a 42-28 loss to West Florida that saw sophomore quarterback Khrian Williams step in for an injured Sharone Wright and throw for 248 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown. It was the third straight game MC went over 400 total yards of offense and the fourth time this season.
The Blazers (4-1, 2-1 GSC) grabbed a big 38-27 victory over cross-state rival West Georgia last Saturday. VSU put up nearly 550 yards of total offense with quarterbacks Roland Rivers and Adam Robles each throwing for over 180 yards and combining for five touchdown passes.
HEAD COACH
Mississippi College – John Bland (3rd Year) – MC Record: 5-21 – Career Record: 80-47
Valdosta State – Kerwin Bell (1st Year) – VSU Record: 4-1 – Career Record: 70-36
WHEN MC HAS THE BALL
The Choctaws have had four quarterbacks see action this season, led by Wright, who is completing a school record 60.8% of his passes for 1,046 yards and five touchdowns in 2016. He also leads the team with 285 rushing yards and two scores this season.
Senior Josh Dixon leads the rushing attack, tallying three scores on 6.1 yards per carry. The Clinton native has missed three games this season due to injury, and in his stead, sophomore Alizee Chubbshas rushed for 243 yards and a score, carrying the ball 4.7 yards per rush.
Senior Marcel Newson is the team’s top receiver, catching 31 passes for 534 yards and two scores. Despite missing last week’s game due to injury, Newson is expected to play against the Blazers. The Coldwater native leads the GSC with 165 all-purpose yards per game. Sophomore Chakel Gates caught 11 passes for 132 yards in Newson’s absence against West Florida last week.
The MC offensive line is senior-laden, led by upperclassmen Nick Luckey, Daivon Milan, Sean Rogersand Jamaal White. Juniors Ronny Smith and Brandon Windham are joined by sophomore Lawrence Guyot on the experienced front.
The Blazers are allowing just 332 yards of total offense per game and have picked off 15 passes through five games with four players intercepting multiple throws.
Senior Kenny Moore leads the defense with 20 tackles to go along with 3.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups. Justin Dixon leads the team with 4.0 TFL, while Jamar Simpkins and Alex Williams have a team-high 2.0 sacks.
Brandon Roe and Raymond Palmer have a team-high three interceptions, followed by Moore and Dante Robinson with two picks.
WHEN VSU HAS THE BALL
The Blazers employ a two-quarterback system with Rivers and Robles each passing for over 800 yards this season. Each has thrown for seven touchdowns with Robles only being picked off once and Rivers five times.
Dallas Baldner and Xay Howard each have a team-high 25 catches, while Baldner leads the way with 418 yards. Damien Strange leads the team with five touchdown catches on 22 receptions for 270 yards.
Jordan Germany and Cedric Hollingshed each lead the team with 173 rushing yards, while Hollingshed and Rivers each have two touchdown runs.
The Choctaw defense leads the Gulf South Conference, allowing just 188.7 passing yards per game. MC has held 5-of-6 opponents under 220 passing yards this season.
Junior defensive back Chris Manning leads the MC defense with 46 tackles, including 30 solo stops. The Section, Ala. native had a career-high 16 tackles against Delta State and ran an interception back for a score against West Florida.
Senior JaQarius Scott leads the team with 4.0 tackles for loss, while freshman Courtney Allen has a team-high 1.5 sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Matthew Turcotte ranks 3rd in the GSC, averaging 39.7 yards per punt with a league-long 62-yard punt this season. Junior Matt Brasher is 5-of-7 on field goals, including a season-long 37-yard walk-off field goal against Cumberland (TN).
Newson leads the team with 24.0 yards per kickoff return this season, while freshman Cavosea’a Stinson has taken back 18 kicks for 17.4 yards per return.
Gavin Wilson has punted 30 times for an average of 35.4 yards per kick, while Andrew Gray is 8-of-11 kicking field goals with a long make of 43 yards.
Jeray Demby is the top kick returner for the Blazers, averaging 20.1 yards per return, while Gary Simon is averaging 9.8 yards per punt return.
Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu
.
