Bulldogs fall in opener to Bears, 24-21
By Steve Diffey
Director of Sports Information
Holmes Community College
SUMMIT — It took the Southwest Mississippi Community College Bears two overtimes here Thursday night to defeat the Holmes Community College Bulldogs, 24-21. The Bears blocked a Bulldog field goal in the first overtime and a bad snap on a field goal try in the second overtime also kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
Jake Saltalamacchia hit a 26-yard field goal to give the Bears the win. The Bulldogs fell to 0-1 on the season and play host the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolves on Thursday in Goodman. The game can be heard on 101.1 FM, 100.1 FM, 103.9 FM and breezynews.com. The game will also be video-streamed on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bulldogs-football-2011.
The Bulldogs scored first in the game after taking advantage of a Bear miscue deep in Bear territory as Taj Letman recovered a fumble at the three yard line. Ladarius Redditt got the first points of the season as he scored from three yards out with 8:43 to go in the first quarter. Mitch Huff's extra point was good and the Bulldogs led 7-0 going into halftime.
The Bears tied the game early in the third quarter as Vintavioius Cooper scored from four yards out. Saltalmacchia's extra point was good.
The fourth quarter track meet then started as both teams began trading scores.
Southwest then took a 14-7 lead with 7:51 left in the game when Laderick Turner scored from two yards out. Saltalmacchia's extra point was good.
Not two minutes later, the Bulldogs tied the game with 5:17 left when quarterback Matt Hamner Jamel Johnson in the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown. Huff's kick was good.
Southwest then jumped out 21-14 when Cooper scored from two yards out with 3:11 to go. Saltalmacchia's kick was good.
The Bulldogs then scored with 1:15 left when Hamner found Jamal Bass in the right flat, and Bass scooted some 19 yards for the score. Huff's kick was good tying the game at 21.
The Bulldogs defense stopped the Bears and forced them to attempt a 47-yard field goal in the first overtime, which was short and sailed wide left.
Holmes lined up for a field goal to win the game, but the Bears broke through and blocked the attempt forcing the second overtime. The Bulldogs got the ball in the second overtime first but were unable to get the field goal attempt off and recovered the ball back near midfield. Southwest then ended the game on the chipshot field goal.