GMC News

JCFB Starts 2007 with a Win

GMC Starts 2007 with a Win in Kansas

The Georgia Military College JC Bulldogs continued its string of success against Kansas JUCOs as the Bulldogs defeated Highlands Community College 18-6 in the season opener for both teams. The GMC standard of outstanding defense joined with an early arrival of an effective passing attack combined to send the Bulldogs home with a victory.

The game started as a back and forth affair as each team felt the other out for the first couple of series. Then the GMC Offense sprung to life with an 8 play, 68 yard drive that moved the ball primarily on the arm of Carlton Fears (13/26, 272 yards, 2 TD ) and the hands of All-American Pat Wilkinson and Emmanuel Drake, who hauled in a 28 yard scoring strike from a scrambling Fears. A Juan Rodriguez extra point capped the first score of the year. The scoring resumed quickly on the next possession for the Bulldogs as Fears again connected on a 58 yard strike to freshman WR Brandon Nolley and the PAT was blocked to send the Bulldogs into the locker room at half ahead 13-0. The Bulldogs moved the ball a little better on the ground in the second half, but failed to punch one in the end zone, having only one scoring drive that resulted in a field goal by Rodriguez. “I was very pleased with our passing game today,” commented Head Coach Bert Williams, “but we kind of expected that with the returning skilled players we have there. My main concern is our struggle in running the ball. Four new offensive linemen make that a challenge, but we have to get that fixed quick.” Sophomore tailback Jarrell Crawford and fullback Fernando Washington both had solid games, but reserve players struggled in the backfield and coughed up two fumbles that stopped drives.

Defensively, the Bulldogs lost no momentum with a new leader at the helm in Rob Manchester or with the new faces on the staff in Chad Lunsford and Vic Cabral. The Bulldog Defense held the Highland Offense to just 170 yards of offense and only one score for the game. Led by sophomores Brian Holder and Leroy Burgess, the defense continued to stymie opponents with its vaunted 3-5-3 scheme. The defense notched three sacks on the day, with Burgess getting three of them, and added a score of their own when Burgess caused a fumble on Highlands’ two-point attempt that was scooped by freshman linebacker Josh Dickerson and returned for 2 points to GMC. Freshman Taikwon Paige added an interception in the end zone to stop the only other scoring threat from Highlands. “I thought our defense played very well – great hustle, good execution, causing disturbance. The one thing I saw that we need work on though is tackling – we missed too many tackles,” commented Williams.

The Bulldogs get an extra week to prepare for their next opponent, Trinity Valley Community College from Athens, TX. “We know Trinity Valley will come in ready to play with probably the best talent group we will see all year. We need the extra week and I am glad we have it,” said Williams. The game will be held September 8 on Davenport Field at 1pm.