SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

Prep Football: Bearcats stun Gators 16-14 as both teams begin region play

A high school football player in maroon uniform with number 9 runs with the ball during a game, with a referee in a black and white striped shirt watching, and a crowd in the background.
Long Beach quarterback Derek McDonald led his Bearcats to a stunning 16-14 upset of Gautier Thursday night. (SouthMiss6 Sports)

By Sam Staff/Sports Writer

LONG BEACH — Coming into this week, it had been almost 10 years since the Long Beach football team won at least four games in a season.

Also, it had also been that long since the Bearcats beat Gautier on the gridiron.

Long Beach snapped both draughts with one big home win Thursday night.

A football player in maroon jersey is running with the ball on a field, while a player in a white and blue uniform is chasing him.
Long Beach running back Gavin Sutherland looks for some running room vs. Gautier Thursday night. (Photo by Pete Stump)
A high school football player in a white jersey with the number 2 running with the ball during a night game, with players from both teams in the background.
Gautier quarterback Keon McNeil looks for some running room vs. Long Beach Thursday night. (Photo by Pete Stump)
A football player in a maroon jersey leaps to catch a pass in the end zone while another player in white and blue attempts to tackle him on the ground. The scoreboard shows 2:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Long Beach’s Carlos Finch comes down with the ball on the sideline as Gautier defenders Kingston McNeil (8) and Jaden Allen reactThursday night. (Photo by Pete Stump)

The Bearcats stunned visiting Gautier 16-14 here at Lumpkin Stadium in the Region 4-6A opener for both teams. It marked the first time since the 2017 season that LBHS beat the Gators, and it snapped a six-game losing streak to GHS as well.

Gautier had also won 10-out-of the last 11 games dating back to 2011. Long Beach is now 4-2 overall, the first time the Bearcats have won at least that many games in a season since 2017 as well. Gautier falls to 4-2 overall.

Long Beach got a short touchdown pass from junior quarterback Derek McDonald to wide out Kaleb McRee as well as a scoring run from senior running back Gavin Sutherland in the winning effort.

The workhorse Sutherland ran the ball 36 times for 136 yards and the big touchdown in the winning outing.

Bearcat placekicker Aiden Downey also booted a key field goal as well.

A high school football player wearing a maroon Long Beach jersey with the number 9 is running with the ball, evading a tackle from an opponent in a white and blue jersey with the number 4. Two other players are on the field in the background.
Long Beach quarterback Derek McDonald changes direction vs. Gautier Thursday night as Bearcat running back Gavin Sutherland blocks Gator defender Brandon Crayton . (Photo by Pete Stump)
A football player wearing a blue jersey with the number 18 runs past an opposing player on the field at night. Spectators are visible in the background.
Gautier wide out Devon Garrett works towards the sideline as Long Beach defenders Dylon Foxworth (1) and Landon Thode pursue Thursday night. (Photo by Pete Stump)
A high school football player in a white uniform runs with the ball while being pursued by an opponent in a maroon uniform during a night game.
Gautier quarterback Keon McNeil breaks toward the end zone vs. Long Beach Thursday night. (Photo by Pete Stump)

Gautier quarterback Keon McNeil accounted for both Gator touchdowns, as he ran for one score and threw for another.

However, he also tossed two interceptions in the loss, as Bearcat defenders Benjamin Alsaker and Carlos Finch, Jr., came up with the key pickoffs that helped the home team keep the normally explosive Gator offense off the field most of the night.

Long Beach, under the direction of second year head coach Cody Finley, will welcome in Pascagoula next week as region play continues. Gautier will return home to host Pearl River Central in league play

A football coach in a white shirt is talking to another coach on the field, while a player in a maroon jersey is seen in the foreground. Other team members and staff are visible in the background during a night game.
Long Beach head coach Cody Finley led his Bearcats to a stunning 16-14 upset of Gautier Thursday night. (SouthMiss6 Sports)
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