POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Pearl River football started strong on Thursday night against East Central, jumping out to a commanding lead before ultimately falling 37-27.
Despite the setback, the team remains focused and motivated heading into next week's matchup against rival No. 4 Gulf Coast. The team showed what it's capable of early in the game, and the Wildcats are looking to carry that energy into Thursday's rivalry game.
Pearl River will hold Sophomore Night festivities before the game, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
ABOUT PEARL RIVER
The Wildcat (1-3 overall; 0-2 MACCC) passing game has been led by Reese Mooney (Clinton; Denham Springs) who is 46 of 81 for 654 yards and five touchdowns on the year.
However, with injuries affecting the lineup, Austin Jones (Beaumont; Perry Central) is set to make his first start this week against Gulf Coast. Jones has seen limited action so far, going 2-for-4 for 16 yards, but will have the opportunity to lead the offense in a key rivalry matchup.
Kendrick Triplett (Florence, Ala.) has been a standout in the Wildcat passing game this season, hauling in 15 receptions for 312 yards and four touchdowns. He's been a consistent playmaker and a go-to target downfield with an average 20.9 yards per reception. Alongside him, Donovan McGowan (Mandeville, La.) has also made a strong impact, surpassing the 200-yard mark with 223 yards on 15 catches and one touchdown.
The Wildcat ground game has been powered by Keenan Franks (State Line; Greene County), who has racked up 345 yards on 66 carries through the team's first four games. Franks led the rushing attack again against East Central, finishing with 102 yards — his third straight game topping 100 rushing yards.
On the defensive side, Daniel Pickens (Gautier; Resurrection) leads the Wildcats with 28 total tackles and recorded an interception against Itawamba. Right behind him are Garrett Orgas (Vicksburg; Warren Central) with 26 tackles and Jalen Anderson (Slidell, La.) with 23. Anderson has been a consistent playmaker, racking up seven tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles, proving to be a disruptive presence on the field.
ABOUT GULF COAST
Gulf Coast (4-0; 2-0) comes into the matchup with the top passing attack in the MACCC, led by quarterback Landon Varnes. Varnes has thrown for 1,288 yards and 14 total touchdowns, completing 73 of 108 passes on the season.
Gulf Coast features a receiving duo, with two players already over the 300-yard mark on the season. Tyler Henderson leads the way with 440 yards on 25 receptions, while Mason Beverly has added 302 yards on 14 catches. Together, the pair has combined for seven touchdowns, making them a key threat in the Bulldog offense.
The Bulldogs' ground game is led by Alan Woods, who has rushed for 286 yards on 52 carries and scored four touchdowns. He is also a threat in the passing game, adding 177 receiving yards to his all-purpose yards.
The Gulf Coast defense is anchored by Taurean Davis, who leads the team with 38 total tackles, along with one interception and a pass breakup. Behind him, Kaleb Arterberry has recorded 21 tackles, while Elijah Owens follows closely with 20.
SERIES HISTORY
According to Pearl River record books, the Wildcats lead the rivalry with a 56-45-1 record all-time against Gulf Coast.
TUNE IN
All Pearl River football games are livestreamed free at PRCCMedia.com/Gold. Fans with Roku, Amazon Fire, or Apple TV can also watch by downloading the "Pearl River CC" channel.
Games will also air locally on WRJW 1320-AM, 106.9 FM, and WRJWRadio.com.
For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).