- MGCCC Quarterback Clayton Moore
Battle of top NJCAA teams highlights three-day event
The 2010 Mississippi Bowl will showcase two of the NJCAA’S best teams as Grand Rapids Community College (Mich.) faces Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. at Biloxi Indian Stadium. Grand Rapids accepted an invitation to play in the third annual event Tuesday.
“We have another marquee matchup,” said Ladd Taylor, Mississippi Bowl Committee Chairman. “It speaks a lot about the reputation of the Mississippi Bowl as one of the premier bowl games in the NJCAA. Our goal every year is to get the highest nationally ranked team to face the MACJC Champion.”
Grand Rapids (10-1) won the Midwest Conference Championship and comes to Mississippi ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA in total offense (458 yds. per game) and a defense that only allows 70 rushing yards per contest. The Raiders have a stable of playmakers on offense, including quarterback James Stallons (2,039 yards passing, 19 TD’S), running back/quarterback Terrance Moore (542 yards rushing, 10TDS, 8 passing TD’S) and wide receiver Dominique Douglas (722 yards receiving, 7 TD’S).
“Grand Rapids is a very explosive football team,” said Gulf Coast head coach Steve Campbell. “They’re well coached and have a number of outstanding athletes.”
Grand Rapids C.C. running back Terrance Moore
Gulf Coast (9-2) is coming off a 31-17 win over Co-Lin in the MACJC Championship game Nov. 13. The Bulldogs are the host team in the Mississippi Bowl for the second time in the last three years, winning the inaugural game 41-7 over Georgia Military College in 2008. Gulf Coast is the NJCAA’S second ranked team in total offense, averaging 466 yards per outing. Quarterback Clayton Moore (2,039 yards passing, 19 TD’S), Running back James Gillum (1,241 yards, 15 TDS), and wide receiver Javon Bell (1,205 yards, 15 TDS, 31.7 yards per catch) highlight the Bulldog offense while sophomore safety Lamar Johnson has paced the team’s defense with six interceptions in the last three games.
“You always want to finish the season on a high note,” Campbell added. “You want to send your sophomores out as winners. ”
Three fun-filled days of local entertainment, food and football will welcome the teams and their families, friends and special guests.
All revenues of this association are for the benefit of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation. The Mississippi Bowl payout for each team will be $10,000, compared to the $7,500 per-team payout from other bowl organizations.
Dub Herring and Barry Harper are again serving as title sponsors for the event. Herring, also a well-known car and RV dealer, owns Paw Paw’s Campers and Cars in Picayune. He also played football at Holmes Community College in Goodman. Harper spent 21 years working for Herring and is Herring’s son-in-law.
The three-day event will also feature other off-the-field activities.
Fans can watch all the action Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. via streaming video at www.psblive.com.
PAST MISSISSIPPI BOWL RESULTS
2008: No. 6 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. 41, No. 4 Georgia Military College 7
2009: No. 6 East Mississippi C.C. 27, No. 5 Arizona Western College 24.
