By MAURICE SINGLETON/Sports Writer

LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Bearcats (1-2) scored twenty-one points over a two-and-a-half-minute period in the first quarter on their way to a 49-0 homecoming shut out over Bay High (0-3) to get their first win of the season.

The Bearcats failed to score on their first possession, failing to convert a 30-yard field goal with just under seven minutes to play in the first quarter. But on the very next play, Carlos Finch intercepted the Tigers around the visitors’ 20-yard line and he got the pick-6 for the Bearcats first score with 6:41 showing on the first-quarter clock.

The Bearcats’ defense didn’t allow the Tigers a first down on their ensuing possession, forcing a punt which resulted in good field position for the Bearcats at their own 40-yard line. Then on the very next play from scrimmage, senior Junior Brown broke free down the right side of the field for a 60-yard score to give the Bearcats a 14-0 lead with 4:29 left on the first-quarter clock.

The Tigers fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return, giving the Bearcats excellent field position at the Bay High 4-yard line. Sophomore quarterback Derek McDonald carried it on the next snap, giving the Bearcats a 21-0 lead following senior kicker Addison Carroll’s third successful PAT kick with 4:13 remaining of the first quarter clock.

The Bearcats would have the Tigers on their heels the rest of the way as they would add four more touchdowns on the night, one in the second quarter, two in the third, and another in the fourth, while holding off the Tigers.

“We had a good game tonight,” said Bearcats coach Cody Finley. “We changed some things up. We’re still trying to figure out our personnel. We made some changes this week; our kids accepted some of the stuff we were doing, and we came out and played a complete game tonight.”

The Bearcats would get on the scoreboard late in the second quarter as McDonald connected with senior wide receiver S.J. Valentine for a 19-yard scoring toss to close out the first half scoring.

The Bearcats took advantage of an onside kick by the Tigers, recovering at their own 46-yard line. Four plays later, McDonald would connect with Valentine from 26 yards out for the duo’s second aerial score of the night. The Bearcats would lead 35-0.

McDonald would score on a 32-yard keeper to close out he third quarter scoring, giving the Bearcats a 42-0 lead.

Junior Gavin Sutherlin would close out the game’s scoring for the Bearcats as he carried five time for 33 yards on their final possession, capping the drive with an 8-yard touchdown.

“We just want to win,” said Finley. “We’ve struggled winning here for a long time. Anytime we can get a W is a big deal for us at Long Beach, especially here at homecoming.”

On the other sideline, the Tigers struggled to stop the Bearcats offense, and failed to get into the red zone on the night.

“We’ve got to get better,” said Bay coach Katlan French. “We’ve got to get our players to understand what we’re trying to do better. We can be better than what we are right now. We can be 100 percent better. We’ve got to keep fighting, and we as coaches we’ve got to come up with something that we can do successfully.”

Long travels to Purvis next Friday night, while Bay High has a bye week before traveling to Presbyterian Christian in two weeks.