Sports

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Jenkins, Gulf Coast bring the hammer to Coahoma

PERKINSTON — The Gulf Coast Bulldogs can beat you in a lot of ways.

They can grind it out with Vick Ballard and the running game. They can put the ball in quarterback Greg Jenkins’ hands, and let him fling it downfield to Kelvin Bolden.

On Saturday afternoon, though, the fifth-ranked Bulldogs unveiled something entirely different in the MACJC state semifinals at A.L. May Stadium. They brought in a jumbo package in short-yardage situations that left Coahoma virtually helpless.

Gulf Coast used Johnathan Jenkins, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound freshman from Meriden, Conn., as a tailback, and he carried the ball five times for 41 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs trounced Coahoma 58-21.

“They know it’s coming,” Greg Jenkins said. “Vick was getting a lot of carries, so Coach (Steve Campbell) wanted to take some of the load off him. We’re getting it going right now, but our best football is ahead of us.

“I think we’re hitting our stride.”

With the victory, Gulf Coast (9-1) will now play for its third consecutive MJCAC state championship on Saturday. The Bulldogs will have to do it on the road in Scooba, as seventh-ranked East Mississippi turned back Jones County 26-16. Gulf Coast knocked off EMCC earlier this season, winning 43-26 in Scooba.

“We’ve got a lot of ways to move the ball,” said Bolden, who plans to enroll at Mississippi State in January and play for the Bulldogs next fall. “We can run it, and Greg can get it to me deep. Give a lot of credit to the offensive line. And Jenkins, man, he’s just too big. He did a great job.”

Bolden, a former Ocean Springs standout, had touchdown receptions of 21, 35 and 45 yards, the last score pushing Gulf Coast in front 49-14 early in the second half. Ballard, who also is on his way to Mississippi State, carried the ball 19 times for 103 yards and the Bulldogs’ first touchdown.

In short-yardage and goal-line plays, however, Campbell would send in Johnathan Jenkins, Jacoby Bell, Aaron Nelson and Zach Rushing into the game. The quartet averages about 280 pounds a man, and Jenkins brings a whole new meaning to the term of “running downhill.”

“I had some experience playing tight end and fullback in high school,” Johnathan Jenkins said with a smile. “I’m comfortable running the ball. We just wanted to give Vick a break. I’m a long way from home, but I thought if I could come here and play, there’d be no stopping me on what I could do in my career.”

There was certainly no stopping the Bulldogs in this game.

Greg Jenkins completed 10 of 12 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns, while adding two scores on the ground. Gulf Coast’s defense allowed just 92 yards rushing. Artavis Gregory, the Tigers’ 5-foot-3, 175-pound tailback, led the way with 11 carries for 54 yards.