PHOTO CREDIT: Cayce Smith (ICC Athletics)
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — After two consecutive four-plus hour trips to open the season, the Pearl River football is finally hosting its home opener Thursday as Southwest makes the trip to Dobie Holden Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sophomore Night festivities will take place at 6:30 p.m. The night will also be PRCC’s Military and First Responders Appreciation Night. Those with an ID will be admitted for free.
Pearl River (1-1 overall) enters Thursday’s matchup with Southwest (0-2) after dropping a defensive battle on the road against Itawamba, 10-0. The Wildcat defense forced three Indian turnovers but couldn’t cash in on the offensive side.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Kabe Barnett (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) leads PRCC’s passing attack. He’s completed 29 of 58 passes on the year for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Barnett is also Pearl River’s second-leading rusher with 71 yards.
Jacobi Jefferson (Slidell, La.; Salmen) is at the top of PRCC’s rushing charts. He’s carried the ball 21 times for 71 yards and a score.
Javonta Caldwell (Laurel) leads the team in catches with seven and is third in receiving yards with 40. Howard Kinchen (Lafayette, La.; Patterson) hauled six passes for 37 yards. Henry Lee Jr. (Kenner, La.; East Jefferson) is the Wildcat leader in receiving yardage with 50 yards. He’s caught six passes.
Travis Bendolph Jr. (Mobile, Ala.; Theodore) has shined on the defensive side of the ball so far this season. He currently leads PRCC in tackles (18), tackles for loss (5.5) and one sack. Trace Carter (Ocean Springs) is second on the team with 12 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
ABOUT THE BEARS
Southwest dropped a shootout last week at Northeast, falling 49-30 to the Tigers.
Henry Brewer leads SMCC’s passing attack. In two games, he has completed 39 of 68 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also thrown a pair of interceptions.
Jalen Williams is the go-to in the ground game, carrying the ball 27 times for 71 yards and two scores. Chris Hunter is another option, taking 14 carries for 69 yards and a score.
Receivers Demarcco Blanton and Marcellus Jackson have been the top two pass catchers for Southwest. Blanton has hauled in 14 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson has caught 10 for 108 yards.
On the defensive side of the football, the Bears have two players tied for the team lead with 16 tackles in Koren Harris and Jeffery Polk Jr. Xavier McDowell has got after it in the pass rush in the first two games. He’s recorded nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Defensive back Kam Carter has been a ballhawk, plucking away a pair of interceptions. He’s also made eight tackles.
PRCC-SMCC SERIES
Pearl River has dominated the all-time series against the Bears. Heading into Thursday, PRCC is 64-16-3 all-time against Southwest.
TUNE IN
All Pearl River football games are livestreamed for free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans who have Roku, Amazon Fire or Apple TV devices can also watch the Wildcat broadcasts by downloading the “Pearl River CC” channel from their app stores.
Games can also be heard at WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM and WRJWRadio.com.
TICKETS
Tickets for Pearl River home games are on sale now at PRCCAthletics.com/tickets. Tickets purchased in advance are $8 while tickets purchased on gameday are $10. General admission football season passes are $38, while chairback reserved seating is $75. All-sport passes are also on sale and are $123. The pass grants entry to all PRCC regular season competitions.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).
