Despite the Long Beach Bearcats (2-2) making a rally in the fourth quarter of their homecoming game at Lumpkin-Magee Stadium on Friday, they did not have enough to overtake the Purvis Tornadoes, who won 49-34.
The Tornadoes (2-2) were led by Moses Cummings, who rushed 19 times for 245 yards and five touchdowns, virtually taking away any opportunity from the Bearcats, who trailed 28-12 at halftime and 49-20 in the fourth quarter.
After the Bearcats went scoreless in the first quarter, Long Beach quarterback Will Brady threw one of his three touchdown passes with seven minutes to go in the first half.
After Purvis quickly scored on a long run by Cummings, Brady tossed another touchdown pass with under three minutes remaining as Long Beach cut the lead.
Too much time was left, however, with Cummings scoring the final touchdown of the half for a 28-12 Purvis lead.
Both Long Beach extra-point attempts in the half were blocked.
Coming out of the gates in the second half, Purvis quickly scored on an 80-yard run by Cummings. The play was followed by a five-minute Long Beach drive that resulted in a 9-yard touchdown run by Brady.
The two-point conversion was successful for the Bearcats and cut the Purvis lead to 35-20.
For Long Beach, the score would not get closer.
For Long Beach, the score would not get closer.
The Tornadoes scored two straight touchdowns and took a 29-point lead with eight minutes left in the contest, but before the game was over, the Bearcats scored twice to make it 49-34 and recovered an onside kick.
Brady accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and had one pass intercepted. He threw for 170 yards on 8-of-15 passing and rushed for 120 yards on 10 carries.
As the Bearcats offense gained 469 yards, running back Junior Brown finished with 141 yards rushing and receiving. Long Beach receivers SJ Valentine and Andre Windham combined for 117 yards and each caught a touchdown pass from Brady.
Windham led the defense in overall tackles with nine, including seven solo.
Long Beach named Stella Jackson as the homecoming queen and Jaden Lacour as the king.
The Bearcats will host Petal on Friday at 7 p.m.
