By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

LONG BEACH — Deuce Knight connected on four touchdown passes and rushed for another to lead George County (4-3, 1-0, district) to a 48-13 win over Long Beach (2-4, 0-1, district) in his return after missing three games while recovering from an injury.

“Deuce has been out the last three and a half weeks, a little shaky on the first couple of drives,” said Rebels coach James Ray. “He threw that pick out there; he didn’t read the guy; he didn’t see him out there. Then he got in his groove and showed why he is a five star.

“It’s good to have Deuce back. Our players responded to him. Our receivers went out and got balls for him,” said Ray. “Our defense played outstanding. We gave them that one touchdown on the interception. Our defense did an outstanding job. Really proud of what they did.”

The George County Rebels scored three touchdowns in a span of just over eight minutes in the second quarter to pull away from the Long Beach Bearcats on their way to a district-opening on Friday.

Long Beach got on the scoreboard first, and took a 13-7 lead in the first quarter, after converting on a George County turnover on a Brody Peeler interception and return to the George County 10-yard line. Will Brady connected with Rashad Foxworth from five yards out to give Long Beach a 13-7 lead after the PAT kick was blocked.

But the Rebels answered, scoring 41 unanswered points from that point, while keeping the Bearcats off the scoreboard the rest of the game.

The Rebels added two more scores early in the third quarter, the first coming off a failed Long Beach onside kick to open the second half that was multiplied by an unsportsmanlike personal foul against the home team. After the 15-yard penalty, the Rebels got the ball at the Long Beach 18-yard line. 

On the second play from scrimmage, Knight connected with Montrell Dortch for his fourth touchdown pass of the night to add to the Rebels lead at 42-13 with 11:47 remaining on the third quarter clock.

Long Beach got things going early, scoring on the game’s opening drive as Andre Windham broke away for a 61-yard score on the second play from scrimmage to take an early lead at 7-0.

George County responded on their first possession, also on the second snap, as Knight connected with Brenn Moody for a 45-yard pass play to even the score at 7-7.

On the Rebels ensuing possession, the Rebels went to Branden Gautier four consecutive times on the ground before Knight carried it in from five yards out to give the Rebels a lead they wouldn’t surrender as they went up 14-13.

The Rebels defense would hold the Bearcats to a single first down on their next possession and forced the Bearcats to punt from their own 38-yard line.

Knight’s groove was on full display on this possession as he ran for nine yards on the second snap, then completed three of four passes for gains of 26, 25 and 13 yards, the latter for a touchdown and a 21-13 lead.

On the Rebels next possession, he completed passes on three consecutive plays, going 5, 47, and 10 yards, the latter a screen pass and a touchdown to Dortch and a 28-13 lead with 2:37 remaining on the second quarter clock.

The Rebels would close out the first half scoring on a 17-yard Dortch rush to increase their lead at 35-13 before going into halftime.

Long Beach looked strong early, scoring twice on their first three possessions.

“We had a lot of confidence in our plan. We really tried to get Andre Windham the ball early, and that’s why we were able to start fast on’em,” said Bearcats coach Jacob Massey. “We made too many mental mistakes in the first half. We kind of let it get away. Too many mental mistakes against a really good football team.”

Knight completed 10 of thirteen passes on the night for 219 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception.

George County will host Hancock next Friday in Lucedale. Long Beach will play on the road at Pascagoula next Friday.