By BRETT NELSON/Sports Writer

LUCEDALE — West Jones running back Caleb Holmes became the thorn that continued to draw blood from the side of George County all night.
The senior Mustang, behind physical blocking and roughshod running, scored four touchdowns and carried 16 times for 230 total yards on the ground to lead the way for a 55-21 crushing of the Rebels in a key Region 3-6A matchup Friday night in Lucedale.
With the win, West Jones (5-2, 1-0) avenged a first-round playoff exit last season in Soso and moved to 2-0 all-time against GCHS in Gill-Martin Stadium since defeating the Rebels there 17-14 in a 2004 second round playoff game.

George County (2-4, 0-1), after allowing just 21 total points in the last two contests, gave up 593 total yards in the loss, and were unable to overcome an early 20-0 first half deficit as the Mustangs never surrendered the lead.
After an opening drive that saw the Rebels suffer two penalties and punt after a three-and-out count, Holmes made sure to let defenders know he was there for business from the opening moments of the first West Jones offensive series after leading and capping off a 51-yard, five play drive with a two yard plunge at the 7:08 mark in the first quarter.
Both teams would exchange punts over the next three series before Mustang quarterback Tootie Lindsey broke loose on a 12 yard scamper early in the second quarter to push the lead to 13-0 following a failed PAT kick by Kruz McKee that sailed wide left.

After forcing the Rebels to yet another three-and-out, Holmes needed just one handoff, this time from 69 yards out, to find paydirt again and make things 20-0 less than two minutes after the last score. George County wasn’t quite ready to throw in the towel, however, as the ensuing possession ended with a Wyatt Spidahl three yard scoring keeper to make good on a 75-yard, ten play drive with a little over two-and-a-half minutes left in the first half.

West Jones would put things out of reach once more with 1:09 left before halftime as Lindsey hit Chandler Watson on a 12 yard scoring strike, but George County answered right back with lengthy kickoff return by Matt Fairley all the way to the Mustang 11. Senior running back Branden Gautier crossed the goal line six plays later on a one yard run to close the gap 27-14 headed into the break.
WJHS wasted little time on the opening second half drive as only two minutes ticked off before Lindsey hit Watson again on a 37 yard scoring toss to make things 34-14. The Rebels answered right back just four plays later with a 22 yard touchdown run by Gautier with 8:03 left in the third quarter. Holmes added his third touchdown of the night two plays from scrimmage later from 60 yards away to quell any potential comeback, and added his final score of the evening roughly four minutes later with a 57 yard run. Lindsey added his third touchdown pass of the game hitting Brayden Powell from one yard out to close out the scoring.
Lindsey went 15-of-20 for 304 yards, while Watson notched seven of those passes for 185 yards. Gautier carried 25 times for 117 to lead the Rebels.