DECATUR, Miss. — The Pearl River football team wrapped up the 2023 campaign Thursday night, falling to East Central 42-14 inside Bailey Stadium.

GAME RECAP
It was a true ground-and-pound first drive of the night for Pearl River (1-8 overall; 1-5 MACCC South) as the Wildcats rushed nine times for 63 yards and a score. On the second play of the drive, Pearl River struck on a fake quarterback sneak. Christian Turner (Orange Grove; Harrison Central) took the snap, and instead of going up the middle, he bounced out to the right side and rumbled down the sideline for a 14-yard gain. Kayvon Barnes (Pascagoula) rushed a couple more times before taking a pitch on the right side, going through the hole and down the middle of the field for a 24-yard touchdown, 7-0.

The Warriors (4-5; 2-4) were aided by a Wildcat penalty on their first touchdown drive. PRCC's defense forced a punt attempt but was called for a roughing the punter penalty. East Central eventually cashed in, throwing a 13-yard passing touchdown into the back left portion of the end zone, 7-7.

East Central increased its advantage to 14-7 with 4:13 remaining in the first half. The Warrior quarterback dropped back to pass, and after finding no open receivers, he tucked the ball and scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown. 

Pearl River had an opportunity to get one back in the dying minutes of the first half. The Wildcats used five rushes to get to the ECCC 47-yard line before Ty Hullette (Senatobia) scrambled to buy some time while Marquis McCoy (Crestview, Fla.) found an open spot in the defense for a 20-yard gain. The Wildcats advanced the ball inside East Central's red zone but were picked off to end the threat.

East Central extended its lead at the 11:48 mark in the third quarter as the running back weaved his way through the defense for a 38-yard score. ECCC added another with 7:58 remaining on a 5-yard run, 28-7.

PRCC cut the deficit in half with a 9-play, 38-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 2-yard rushing score by Keyshawn Graham (Tuscaloosa, Ala.; American Christian Academy).

The Warriors added two more scores before the night was over to come away with a 42-14 victory.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Graham led the ground game for the Wildcats, carrying the ball 18 times for 72 yards and a score. Barnes was second with 63 yards and a score on 13 attempts. Hullette finished up with 13 carries for 57 yards.

Defensively, Dalton Lee (Carriere; Pearl River Central) finished with nine tackles, half of a TFL and one pass breakup. Caleb Williams (Biloxi; D'Iberville) finished with seven tackles and one TFL.

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