Bulldogs blow out Delta, 58-6
By Steve Diffey
Sports Information Director
Holmes Community College
MOORHEAD --- Clicking on all cylinders is an understatement when describing Thursday night's game with Mississippi Delta here. Nearly 500 yards of offense, less than 150 yards of defense allowed and scores on special teams helped the Bulldogs blow out Delta, 58-6.
Holmes jumped out to a 30-0 lead at halftime and continued the same pace in the second half to propel the Bulldogs to their first win of the season and first win in the North. The Bulldogs went to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the North. Holmes faces East Mississippi next Thursday night in Goodman. The game can be watched live at holmesathletics.ihigh.com or heard on the Bulldog Football Network on breezynews.com, 101.1 FM, 100.1 FM or 103.9 FM.
Freshman quarterback Jamario Benson picked up where he left off in the Itawamba game by rushing for 161 yards and throwing for another 116. He scored two rushing touchdowns and connected with Darreall Joyner on two passing touchdowns, and he managed the Bulldog offense flawlessly.
Holmes got on the scoreboard first in the first quarter with 4:11 when Jammie Jamison and Dantavious Washington tackled the Delta running back in the endzone for a safety to put Holmes up 2-0. After a 32-yard return by sophomore Percy O'Bannon to the Delta 30, Holmes capped off a drive as Benson ran in from three yards out with 2:23 left in the first. Cole Ballard extra point made the score 9-0.
On Delta's next drive, the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard again when sophomore safety Terrious Triplett blocked a Delta punt from the 32. After the ball stopping rolling, Bulldog sophomore linebacker Quay Watt jumped on it for a touchdown to put Holmes up 16-0 after the Ballard extra point.
Holmes added another touchdown with 6:14 left before halftime as Benson found Joyner from 13 yards out. Ballard's kick made the score 23-0.
Benson's second rushing touchdown came with 3:32 left before half when he raced in from 32 yards out. Ballard's kick ended scoring at 30-0 at halftime.
The Holmes defense helped get the Bulldogs on the scoreboard on Delta's first drive of the second half when Richard Mitchell sacked Delta quarterback Lane Williams at the Delta nine and at the same forcing a fumble that Washington recovered. Fred Franklin scored from four yards out minutes later with 12:27 left in the third. Ballard's extra point made the score 37-0.
An interception by sophomore Kris Givens gave the Bulldogs the ball back at the Delta 28 after a return of eight yards. Benson then connected with Joyner from 14 yards out with 7:50 to play in the third for a touchdown. Ballard's extra point put Holmes up 44-0.
Bulldog freshman quarterback James Ayers got into the scoring column in the fourth quarter as he pounded his way into the endzone from four yards out. Ballard's kick put the Bulldogs up 51-0 with 11:05 left in the fourth.
Delta got their only touchdown with 8:09 left in the game when McCadney scored from five yards out. The extra point was no good to make the score 51-6.
Ayers scored his second touchdown of the game with 4:19 left in the game from eight yards out. Ballard's extra point was good.
The Bulldogs ended up with 489 yards of offense. Leading rusher was Benson with 135 yards on 25 carries while Ayers had 87 yards on 13 carries and O'Bannon had 74 yards on 17 carries. Benson finished 12-of-18 for 116 yards with Joyner had six catches for 85 yards.
Defensively, Lyndon Johnson and Jammie Jamison each had seven tackles with Johnson have 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss while Jamison had 1.5 tackles for loss. Watt and Washington each had six tackles with Watt having a half tackle for loss while Washington had 2.5 tackles for loss. Givens had two interceptions while Triplett had one.