This MGCCC star was the nation’s most explosive runner last year. He’s even better now.
Facing 4th and 1 and trailing 17-10 in the fourth quarter, Gulf Coast coach Jack Wright made the decision to hand the ball off to his sophomore running back, Deondre House, to grind out some difficult yardage up the middle and get the first down.
At first glance, it appeared House had just done that — earn 2 or 3 yards to keep the ball moving on a night when nothing came easy for the Bulldogs’ offense.
In fact, Wright had already moved onto the next play.
“It looked like we got enough push to get a first down and I was kind of looking down at my play sheet for the next play,” Wright said. “Then, I look up and he’s gone. I’m not exactly sure what happened. It’s one of those things that you have to put it on slow motion for a while to figure out how he got out of there.”
House, a Senatobia native, says it all came down a slick maneuver in a mass of players towering over the 5-foot-9, 180-pound sophomore.
“I see everything crash down, used my spin move and I was off to the races,” the Arkansas State commit said of the run that tied the game at 17-17 with 13:44 left.
House ran 24 times for 146 and three touchdowns, including a TD in overtime for the decisive score in a 31-24 victory over Hinds Community College Thursday night. He pushed his totals through two games to 45 carries for 366 yards and four TDs.
Arkansas State commit may earn more attention
A year after he led the nation in yards per carry at 7.2, House has proven even more explosive at 8.1 yards a carry while shouldering the load for the MGCCC rushing attack. He’s already almost halfway to his total carries from a year ago (103).
“All players get better from Year 1 to Year 2,” Wright said. “He’s a back who is really dynamic in open space. He’s not necessarily a short yardage type runner, but if he continues to get the opportunities he’s getting, the down field runs will show up more.
“He’s been talented and I think people are seeing what he can do while getting more touches.”
The Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference is the only junior college league playing at the moment, and it wrapped up the second week of its six-game season on Thursday.
Two games in, House is making a strong candidate to be the MVP of the South Division.
“I’ve just got to keep going. I’ve got freshmen under me who look to me to be a great role model,” House said. “I’m just trying to be the best back I can be.”
After committing to Arkansas State back in June, House said he’s only heard from a couple of Div. II schools in recent weeks.
That may change if he continues to put up performances like he has the last two games.
“The word coaches use is “Twitchy,” Wright said. “He makes great cuts in the open field and the first guy almost never gets him down. He’s definitely a weapon, and he’s maybe better than I thought.”
MGCCC survives with a pair of late interceptions
Thursday night’s victory pushed MGCCC’s winning streak to 18 games and a couple of interceptions on defense proved crucial in the outcome.
Sophomore linebacker Mike Smith, a South Alabama commit, picked off Hinds quarterback BeSean McCoy with 1:57 remaining and sprinted to the end zone for a 41-yard TD, giving MGCC a 24-17 lead.
“I just saw the receiver cross my face, the ball go through his hands and it came in my area,” Smith said. “I had to make a play when team my team needed it.”
Hinds (0-1) responded by going 62 yards on eight plays, capping the drive with a 2-yard touchdown by Kobe Dillon with 13 seconds left to push the game to overtime.
MGCCC got the ball first in overtimes and six consecutive rushing plays led to a 4-yard touchdown run by House to give the Bulldogs the lead back at 31-24.
Hinds failed to get a first down on its overtime possession with McCoy intercepted in the end zone on fourth down from the 18 by MGCCC sophomore defensive back Jashon Baker.
“I don’t feel like anything came easy all night, on either side of the ball,” Wright said. “The kids had to fight. We made plenty of mistakes, but I’m so proud of them for continuing to fight. That’s really the lesson there. When things don’t look good, keep swinging away and hope things come your way.”
MGCCC (2-0) nexts hosts Copiah-Lincoln at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 for homecoming.
This story was originally published October 9, 2020 at 1:12 AM.
