by Hunter Dawkins

Similar to the last few weeks, the Long Beach Bearcats spotted the opponent with a double digit lead.  Even with their impressive rally, the Bearcats (2-3, 0-1) let the Pearl River Central Blue Devils hang around and win the game 33-31.

“We are still figuring it out,” said Long Beach High School Head Football Coach Philip Pigott.  “We have young, passionate kids; we are just leaving some plays out there.”

After playing at home for the first time in three weeks, the Bearcats started off on the wrong foot, as Gun-slinging Long Beach Quarterback Cade Crosby was intercepted on the first series by the Blue Devils and was returned for a touchdown.  After the extra point with 11 minutes left, PRC had an early 7-0 lead.

Four minutes later, PRC scored a rushing touchdown.  The extra point was blocked, which made the lead 13-0 PRC with 7 minutes left.  This score remained the same at the end of the quarter.

Rallying in the second quarter, Crosby tossed a 36-yard pass to cut the lead in half.  Following Kai Van Court’s extra point, the Bearcats were back in business with 8 minutes left and a 13-7 PRC lead.

The Blue Devils countered with another rushing touchdown to stall the Long Beach Rally.  Once the extra point was kicked through the uprights, the score was 20-7 and this maintained the same at halftime.

Long Beach and PRC traded jabs in the third quarter, as Crosby fired two more touchdown passes and Van Court connected with a field goal.  The quarter ended with a 27-23 PRC lead, but this didn’t last long.

At the beginning of the fourth, Crosby found a receiver open for a 52-yard touchdown strike, which gave the Bearcats their first and only lead in the game 31-27.

PRC drove their final possession down until Blue Devils Running Back Kobe Whitehead dove in from a yard out with under 2 minutes to play.  They failed on their attempted conversion, but the score was 33-31, which ended up being the final.

Despite the inconsistent play, Crosby was 13-25, throwing for 325 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Long Beach Receiver Dalton Cook had 6 receptions for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Long Beach will host Gautier for its homecoming game at Lumpkin Magee Field next Friday at 7pm.