Bulldogs finish with 500-yard offensive game
By Steve Diffey
Sports Information Director
Holmes Community College
GOODMAN --- The Holmes Community College Bulldogs racked up over 500 yards of offense for the second week in a row, but it wasn't enough as the East Mississippi Community College Lions outraced the Bulldogs for a 56-35 win here Thursday night.
The Bulldogs ended the 2011 campaign with a 2-7 record overall and 2-4 in the North Division while the No. 3 and 9-0 Lions head to the MACJC playoffs next week. Their opponent has not been decided from the South Division. It'll be either Hinds or Gulf Coast.
Bulldog freshman quarterback Dennis Robertson threw for 312 yards on 19 completions and two touchdowns and also ran for another along with 63 rushing yards on 19 carries. Ladarius Redditt had another rushing touchdown on the season giving him 10 for the year, and Cedric Tillman intercepted a Bo Wallace pass and raced in from 32 yards.
East Mississippi got the scoring off quickly with a 12 pass from Wallace to Lacoltan Bester. Taylor Walker added the extra point with 13:26 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs then drove all the way down to the Lion 26 before a fourth down pass fell incomplete. Later in quarter with 4:17 left Jonathan Rumph scored from 24 yards out on a pass from Robertson. Huff's kick tied the game at seven.
Rodney Davis then scored on a one-yard run with nine minutes to go in the second quarter. Walker's extra point made the score 14-7.
Redditt then scored from four yards out, and the Bulldogs tied the game at 14 with 7:44 to go after Huff's extra point was true.
Rodriquez Moore then scored 19 seconds later after he broke free on a 60-yard run. Walker's extra point made the score 21-14.
The Bulldogs had two chances late in the first half to score. The first came when Huff missed a 37-yard field goal wide to the right. Cedric Tillman then got one of his two interceptions at the Lion 22. The Bulldogs drove all the way to the one before the Lion defense stiffened as the first half ended and stopped Redditt at the three yard line as the first half horn blew.
Holmes took the ball all the way to the Lion 16 to open the second half and Redditt fumbled the ball over the Lions there. Wallace later scored on a five yard run with 7:47 left in the third. Walker's extra point made the score 28-14.
The Bulldogs drew closer at 28-21 when Robertson found Ledrick Patterson in the middle of the endzone from 22 yards out. Huff's kick was good with 4:44 to go in the third.
Davis got his second touchdown of the night when Wallace found him from 35 yards out. Walker's kick increased the lead back to 14 at 35-21 with 3:11 left in the third quarter.
Tillman made his second interception count when he picked Wallace at the Lion 32 and raced in for the touchdown. Huff's kick was good to make the score 35-28 with 14:33 left in the game.
The Lions then struck twice as Wallace found Bester again, this time from eight yards out. Wallace then added his second rushing touchdown of the night, this one from 18 yards out. Walker made both extra points to make the score 49-28.
The Bulldogs then pulled back within 14 with 6:03 left as Robertson scored on the ground from four yards out. Huff's kick was good to make the score 49-35.
East Mississippi's final score came when Moore broke free on a 42-yard run with 3:37 to go. Walker's kick was good.
Redditt finished with 25 carries for 69 yards. Jamal Bass had six catches for 101 yards while Rumph had four catches for 96 yards and Patterson had seven catches for 91 yards. The Bulldogs had 508 total yards (196 rushing and 312 passing) while East Mississippi finished with 544 total yards including 222 on the ground and 322 in the air.