CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College football team will be on the road for the final time this season when they travel to Rome, Ga. to face Shorter University on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off at Historic Barron Stadium is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (Central).

Both the Choctaws (2-6, 0-6 GSC) and the Hawks (0-9, 0-6 GSC) are looking for their first Gulf South Conference wins of the season, while MC is looking for their first GSC victory since 1995 in their first full year back in NCAA Division II.

MC is coming off their bye week following a 31-23 loss to West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga. In the last two games, the Choctaws have had the ball with a chance to win or tie in the final seconds of a conference game. On October 15th, MC fell to nationally-ranked Valdosta State, 42-41.

Head coach John Bland is in his 3rd year at the helm of the Choctaw program and earned his 80th career victory with a 27-26 win over Cumberland (TN) on September 24th.

WHEN MC HAS THE BALL

Mississippi College: Points/Game (23.9) | Rushing Yards/Game (174.3) | Passing Yards/Game (231.6) | Touchdowns Scored (25)
Shorter: Points Allowed/Game (41.8) | Rushing Yards Allowed/Game (199.8) |  Passing Yards Allowed/Game (256.6) | Touchdowns Allowed (50)

Senior wide receiver Marcel Newson is the top offensive threat for the Choctaws, leading the Gulf South Conference in receiving yards (109.1 ypg) and all-purpose yards (186.3 ypg) per game. The Coldwater native has caught at least four passes in every game this season, averaging 140.7 receciving yards and a touchdown over the past three games.

Senior quarterback Sharone Wright, despite playing only nine games under center, ranks 14th in school history in total offense per game (104.1) and 19th in passing yards (1379). The Houston, Miss. native has thrown two touchdown passes in three of the last four games and had two rushing scores on September 29th against Delta State.

The MC offensive line is senior-laden and has gotten the running game going the last two weeks, carrying the ball over 40 times with five scores against VSU and UWG. Three-year starter Jamaal White joins Daivon Milan and Sean Rogers as senior starters up front.

The Hawks have shown a stout defense this season, trailing 10-0 to West Florida and 7-0 to West Georgia at halftime in the last two games.

Senior linebacker Jevaris Jones leads the Gulf South Conference with 87 tackles, averaging 10.8 stops per contest. The do-it-all backer has 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception and a blocked kick this year.

John Jarrard has a team-high three interceptions for Shorter, while Willy Dorcin has a team-high nine pass breakups this season.

WHEN SHORTER HAS THE BALL

Shorter: Points/Game (8.8) | Rushing Yards/Game (51.3) | Passing Yards/Game (125.3) | Touchdowns Scored (11)
Mississippi College: Points Allowed/Game (37.1) | Rushing Yards Allowed/Game (242.5) | Passing Yards Allowed/Game (213.4) | Touchdowns Allowed (41)

The Hawks have been held scoreless in each of their last three games and in five out of nine contests this season. Shorter scored a season-high in points in a 43-28 loss to West Alabama on September 29th.

Alex McGhee is the team's leading rusher with 141 yards on 54 carries this season. Maurice Sutton has a team-high 23 catches, while Elijah Gilbert leads the team with 204 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Devante James earned his first start under center last week against West Georgia, passing for 71 yards on 8-of-16 passing.

The Choctaws are led by junior defensive back Chris Manning with 61 tackles, including 38 solo stops. He also has a team-high two interceptions, including a return for touchdown against West Florida.

Junior defensive back Steven Bradley is expected back this week after missing the last three games with an injury. He is averaging nearly seven tackles per game on the season.

Senior JaQarius Scott has a team-high 7.0 tackles for loss with 2.0 sacks, while freshman Julian Charles is just behind with 6.0 tackles for loss. Sophomore Da'Quan Lewis is second on the team with 35 tackles and has a team-high three pass breakups.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Junior punter Matthew Turcotte ranks 3rd in the Gulf South Conference, averaging 40.5 yards per punt. Junior placekicker Matt Brasher is 5-of-7 on field goals, including a game-winning 37-yarder against Cumberland (TN).

Newson has returned six punts for 96 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown sprint against Valdosta State. He is also averaging 22.1 yards per kick return this season.

Punter David Thompson is averaging 36.4 yards on 78 punts this season. He has forced 16 fair catches and landed 16 punts inside the 20-yard line. Brady Hammel is 0-for-2 on field goals this season.

Barnett Bailey is averaging 20.8 yards per kick return with a long of 64 yards this season.

Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC is recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu
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