For the first time since 2018, the Long Beach Bearcats (2-1) defeated the Bay High Tigers (1-2) with a 36-35 victory on Friday at J.D. McCullough Stadium in Bay St. Louis.
The Bearcats’ two wins this season match their total number of victories in 2023.
The leaderboard changed at least six times as the Bearcats accounted for 409 yards in total offense and Bay High surpassed 378.
The team with the final possession ended up winning the game, which was the 68th meeting in one of the oldest high school football rivalries on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Bay High was ahead 14-7 at halftime and Long Beach led 21-14 at the end of the third quarter.
“Both teams played extremely hard, and it was a hard-fought game to the very end,” said Long Beach coach Jacob Massey. “I thought it was a very evenly matched game.”
Undoubtedly, the key player in the game was Long Beach running back Junior Brown, who rushed for 177 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns along with a two-point conversion to win the contest in the final seconds.
Bearcats tailbacks Taj Aubert and Andre Windham combined for 138 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Quarterback Will Brady attempted only two passes, but both were completed to wide receiver S.J. Valentine for 57 yards.
Bay High’s Xander Ladner threw for 229 yards and four touchdowns while running back Jaylen Antoine gained a combined 135 yards rushing and receiving and scored one touchdown. Jackson Callaway of the Tigers led the team in receiving with three catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Long Beach defensive back Jayden Scott led the Bearcats in tackles with nine, including five solo tackles, and forced a fumble. Teammate Rashad Foxworth recovered the fumble.
The Tigers defense was led by Sage Fayard with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Long Beach will play its homecoming game on Friday against Purvis and Bay High will visit West Harrison. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
