CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College football team took a third quarter lead against #3 West Georgia, but could not hold on in a 36-21 loss on Saturday afternoon at Robinson-Hale Stadium for MC's 2018 "Homecoming".

The Choctaws fell to 3-5 overall with a 1-4 mark in Gulf South Conference play, while the Wolves improved to 9-0 overall with a 6-0 league record.
 

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- The Choctaw defense opened up strong by forcing a three-and-out on their opening possession, and the Choctaws would take their possession into UWG territory, but both teams would have to punt on their first opportunity with the ball.
- The Wolves would grab the first lead of the day as Devontae Jackson, the GSC's leading rusher, would go in from 26 yards out to make the score 7-0 with 3:46 remaining in the first quarter.
- MC would respond on their next possession, driving the ball all the way to the UWG one-yard line and scoring on a 4th-and-goal as Detric Hawthorn used a little misdirection to tie the game on the first play of the second quarter.
- UWG would grab the lead back on their next possession, going 75 yards on six plays as Christian Royalston scored from three yards out to make the score 14-7 in favor of the Wolves.
- The Choctaws responded again on their next drive, using up 6:53 of the game clock and capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive with an 11-yard scoring run from Ja'Mori Mark, tying the game at 14-14.
- The Wolves would send the game into the halftime break with a 17-14 lead as Omar Cervantes nailed a 50-yard field goal as time expired.
- MC would open the second half with momentum as they took the opening kickoff and marched 72 yards on 10 plays, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from Hawthorn to make the score 21-17 in favor of the Choctaws.
- The Wolves wasted no time grabbing the lead back for good as they used a huge kick return and need just two plays to go 13 yards and grab the lead right back at 24-21.
- The next UWG drive would see them fumble at the 50-yard line and Derric Hawthorn pick up the loose ball, but the MC offense could not make it pay off as they would have to punt the ball right back.
- MC would gain the ball back at their own five-yard line on their first possession of the fourth quarter, but they would give up a safety and give the Wolves a 26-21 advantage.
- The Wolves made the safety punt pay off as they scored on their next possession to put the game away and close out with a final score of 36-21.
 

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KEY STATS
- For the first time this season, the Choctaws were outrushed, giving up 213 rushing yards to the Wolves on 37 carries, while rushing for 195 yards on 47 attempts.
- The Choctaws went 3-for-3 in the red zone, punching in three touchdowns each time they went inside the UWG 20-yard line.
- MC was just 3-of-12 on third downs, while the Wolves were 4-of-10.
- Hawthorn led the Choctaws with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns, giving him nine scores on the ground this season.
- Tiberias Lampkin carried the ball 10 times for 51 yards, while Mark had 30 rushing yards and a team-high 36 receiving yards.
- Turner Rotenberry and Quentin Frazier each had a team-high six tackles, while Fred Walls tallied two first-quarter sacks.
- Elijah Rogers finished the day with five tackles, a pass breakup and his first sack of the season.
- Jackson rushed for a game-high 104 yards and two scores for the Wolves, while Royalston added 73 yards and a score.
- Willie Candler went 14-of-20 passing with 190 yards and a touchdown.
- Montrell Pardue led UWG with nine tackles, while Korie Rogers had eight stops with a sack.
 

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GAME NOTES
- The Wolves have now won eight straight games against MC, grabbing a 9-8 lead in the series.
 

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NEXT UP
- The Choctaws will play their home finale next Saturday, hosting West Alabama at 2:00 p.m. at Robinson-Hale Stadium. Prior to the game, MC will celebrate "Senior Day" and honor all seniors that contribute to the football program.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC 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 2018-19 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.