FULTON, Miss. – Freshman linebacker Nick Smith had a career night to help the Indians pick up a dominating 41-0 Homecoming win over Southwest Mississippi Community College on to improve to 5-3 on Thursday.
Smith (Cleveland) recorded a career-best 12 tackles (11 solo; 1 assist) along with another season high of five tackles for a loss of 28 yards. The Indians' defense held the Bears (1-7, 0-5 MACJC South) to 212 yards of total offense (177 passing; 35 rushing) and forced six turnovers on the night.
Leading 3-0 after an 18-yard field goal by Caleb Comer (Caledonia) in the first quarter, the Indians scored 31 second-quarter points to put the game on ice heading into halftime.
Hiram Wadlington (Oxford) scored on a four-yard run at the 13:49 mark of the second quarter. Comer added his second field goal of the night from 20 yards out before Clark Mills (Ecru) threw back-to-back-to-back touchdown passes in the final 3 minutes, 48 seconds of the quarter. Augusta Cox (Shannon) caught his first pass of the season and raced 49 yards for the score, Jamel Thomas (Caledonia) reeled in a 16-yard toss for a touchdown, and Austin Watkins (Tupelo) caught a 23-yard toss to put the Indians up 34-0 at the break.
After a quick and quite third quarter, Sylvonta Oliver (Sardis) ripped a reception out the hands of a Bear receiver and returned it 38 yards for the final score of the night as the clock ran non-stop due to the MACJC mercy rule.
The shutout victory was the first since October 15, 2015, when the Indians picked up a 35-0 win against Mississippi Delta Community College.
Mills threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-25 passing and rushed for 52 yards on nine carries. De'Sean Dinkins (Warren Robins, Ga.) ran for 58 yards on 10 carries. Thomas caught eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Tay Carothers (Aberdeen), Kalmorris Robinson (Macon), Kenneth Martin (Columbus), and LaKendrick Jones (Independence) each had a fumble recovery. Oliver and Derrick Pointer (Horn Lake) both had an interception in the win.
Indians will host nationally-ranked Northwest Mississippi Community College (7-1, 4-1 MACJC North) Thursday night with a shot at the playoffs on the line. The First American National Bank opening kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 at Eaton Field. The Davis Ford Pregame Show will begin at 6:00 on ESPN Mississippi 95.1 the Fan and LetsGoICCTV.com/red.
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