[PEARL, MS] The Terry Bulldogs defeated the Pearl Pirates 22-10 on the road to make school history and notch their first win of region play.
The Bulldogs stepped into Ray Rogers Stadium Friday evening with an 0-2 region record and with a spot on the bottom of the MHSAA 6A Region 3 standings. Two losses to Brandon and Northwest Rankin had plunged Terry into a tough hole.
The first quarter was a defensive battle, with the home team in the lead by a score of 3-0 off of a close field goal by Pirate kicker Colston Bennett.
The second quarter was where the Bulldogs really got started. Terry made two defensive stops by stuffing Pearl in the red zone. All of that defensive work paid off when Jordan Magee hit O.J. Marshall for a 75-yard touchdown. Due to special teams woes that have plagued the Bulldogs for the last couple of weeks, Terry elected to go for two. The attempt was successful with Magee pushing into the end zone.
After the Pirates fumbled the long snap on a punt, the Bulldogs capitalized with Magee plunging into the end zone. The two-point conversion attempt failed that time though, giving Terry a 14-3 lead going into halftime.
The Pirates came into the second half on a mission. Down 14-3, they mustered up a long drive ending with a 2-yard touchdown run from Freshman quarterback Jack Durr. This cut the Terry Bulldog lead to 14-10.
The Terry Bulldogs were in a less comfortable position being within striking distance. But before the end of the third quarter, Magee danced into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown and third overall touchdown of the game. With the Sharonsky Johnson two-point conversion, the Bulldogs led 22-10, a much more secure lead.
The fourth quarter was marked by the stout Terry defense. The Pirate offense struggled against Terry’s front line, with Durr feeling tons of pressure from the rush. The Bulldogs held the Pearl Pirates to no fourth quarter points, sealing Terry’s 22-10 win.
History was made in Pearl Friday night as it was the first time in Terry High School history that the Bulldogs defeated the Pirates from Pearl.
“How sweet it is.” Kris Thigpen, head coach of the Terry Bulldogs, summarized. “The first time Terry has ever beaten Pearl….I talk to my seniors about being remembered and really talk to my team about playing a complete game, and they played a complete game tonight.”
The ferocious Terry Bulldog defense who gave up only seven points in the first three games before giving up 40 points three weeks in a row, was back to its old ways at Pearl. The frustrated Pearl offense was held to 10 difficult points in the game.
Terry Defensive Coordinator Jeffery Crosby was happy with what he saw from his defense. “I told the guys that they had a really good opportunity tonight, they can put the whole state on notice by getting this win on the road, and those guys….they really came to play.” Crosby was clearly happy to see the defense return to a high level. “They were the only team in the state to hold their opponents to seven points in three full games. Then they went and let three forty-pieces in a row go….but that’s why it was good for them to bounce back and have a big night.”
The Terry Bulldogs defense had 4.5 sacks and an interception in the ball game. Ty’Land Coleman had two of the sacks and Joaqin Miller and Jaden Gatewood each had one. Donald Passmore got the interception late in the ball game to seal Pearl’s fate.
Thigpen was also pleased with his defense. “Defense played lights out, the way I always thought and knew they could….it started up front with our defensive line….hats off to Coach Crosby and all of our defensive staff.”
With Friday night’s win, the Terry Bulldogs (4-3)[1-2] have a shot at turning their season around. The playoffs are once again a possibility worth considering. Next week, the Bulldogs will be back at Bulldog Field to host the Oak Grove Warriors with a chance of notching a second region win.
