By TK EDWARDS/Sports Correspondent

PERKINSTON — Vancleave entered its road contest Friday night at Stone looking to avoid starting 0-2 in region play after a 47-14 loss to Gautier last week, while Stone looked to return to 2022 by starting 2-0 in region play for the first time in two years.
But it was the Bulldogs that bounced back from that lopsided loss last week with a dominating 37-13 win over the home-standing Tomcats here at A.L. May Stadium on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Vancleave took the opening kickoff at their own one-yard line and Kyle Capers returned it 70 yards but the drive would stall out after an unsuccessful fourth and nine attempt from the 19 resulted in a turnover on downs.
Stone’s ensuing possession ended on a blocked punt by Vancleave that resulted in a Bulldog possession at the Stone 15.
Capers soon give the game its first score with a 4-yard touchdown run with 05:23 remaining in the first. Following the Jordyn Raynor point after Vancleave led 7-0.
Vancleave’s Daylan Moore recovered a Stone fumble on the next possession with Hunter Harper following that up with a 14-yard scoring scamper to make it 14-0 with 02:34 to go in the first frame.

Vancleave’s defense would bring the pressure on the next Stone drive with linebackers Scottie Toothman and Trenton McNeer recording back-to-back sacks and Dez Chatham followed that up with a tackle for loss resulting in a safety to make it 16-0 with 09:02 to go in the second stanza.
The Bulldogs would soon follow up the safety with a touchdown as quarterback Wyatt Adams found Martin Shaw for a 31-yard touchdown toss and suddenly it was 23-0 Bulldogs.
Stone finally got on the scoreboard on its next drive with a 4-yard scoring run by running back Kylan Burnett. Following the Aiden Guinn PAT, Vancleave led 23-7 with 02:57 to go before the half.
But the Bulldogs weren’t done just yet.

With just a single second remaining before halftime, Vancleave would find the end zone yet again on a 4-yard pass from Wyatt Adams pass to Moore. Raynor’s fourth PAT of the night gave Vancleave a commanding 30-7 advantage at the break.
To begin the third quarter, the Vancleave defense would again wreak havoc with Junior Harris causing a fumble with Martin Shaw recovering. At the 11:01 mark of the third, Vancleave’s Hunter Harper would gallop 39-yards for a touchdown to complete the scoring for VHS.

Stone added one last score on a 4-yard Ayden Green touchdown run with 10:45 remaining in the game resulting in the final count.
Vancleave’s Wyatt Adams would complete 10 of 16 passes for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bulldog offensive line would pave the way for the rushing attack to produce 225 yards on 32 attempts.
Vancleave’s defense would ultimately limit the Stone offense to only 155 yards of offense.
Vancleave will close out the home slate next week vs the Laurel Tornadoes for Homecoming. Stone will travel to Wayne County next week.