Published: October 03, 2008 10:32 am         

Wildcats keep hopes alive

Ellisville — Pearl River Community College kept its playoff hopes alive Thursday night.

The Wildcats rallied for an exciting win on the road over Jones, pulling out a 26-22 win in South Division play.

The win came in the game that was designated the national juco game of the week, and moved PRCC to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in league play.

The loss was the first of the season for third ranked Jones, as the Bobcats fell to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in league play as well.

The 10th ranked Wildcats, coming off a 10-7 loss to Gulf Coast last week, led throughout the game but suddenly found themselves trailing 22-19 when Jones linebacker James Bender recovered a fumble and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown with just 2:33 to play.

But PRCC freshman quarterback Emil Jones directed a quick five play, 75-yard drive to pull out the win, as he hit Ray Chisolm on a 4-yard flip pass with 1:22 to play.

“We didn't quit, we could have but we didn't,” PRCC head coach Tim Hatten said. “We stuck in there and pulled out a big win. It was a total team effort.

“I told Emil I had seen him do that before in high school, and I needed him to do it one more time. He did.”

The Wildcats dominated the game for the most part, taking an early 13-0 lead on a Jones scoring pass and a 8-yard scoring run by Rashod Henry.

Jones cut the deficit to 13-7 at halftime, thanks to a 20 yard interception return by Darrione Wilson.

Henry extended the lead in the third frame, as he scampered 29 yards for a touchdown to put PRCC up 19-7.

But the Bobcats bounced back with a 54 yard scoring strike from Early James to Darrell Purifoy to make it 19-14 entering the final period.

After Bender put the Bobcats ahead, Emil Jones hit Jerry Duncan on a 41 yard strike to the Bobcat four setting up the climactic ending.

“We knew if we lost it was over for us in the league,” Jones added. “We had to keep our heads and get it done.”

It was the second straight time that PRCC pulled out a late, exciting win here on the Bobcat's home field.