Host Ben’s Ford Christian School fell in two games in its jamboree Friday night. The Eagles fell 6-0 to Salem out of Mississippi and followed that up with a 22-8 loss to Silliman.

In its one contest, Mississippi Association of Independent School member Bowling Green School scored with 38 seconds left and converted on the point after to defeat Dexter 7-6. Dexter is a 1A school from the Mississippi High School Activities Association. 

The jamboree featured some unique rules. Punts were not rushed and every punt return will be considered a fair catch or where the ball is blown dead.

Extra points were live.

There will be no kickoffs. After a score, the ball will be placed at the 20 for the next drive.

Bowling Green-Dexter

Although it didn’t feel like football weather Friday night, the wait was over and high school football had arrived. 

Fans packed the stands at Ben’s Ford ready to cheer on their favorite team and got a glimpse of what they might expect for the upcoming season. 

In the opener, Bowling Green faced Dexter in two 15-minute quarters. 

It was a physical battle with no score until the 4:06 mark of the second quarter.

Dexter scored on a 12-yard run.

The Buccaneers defense stiffened and stopped Dexter on the two-point conversion. 

Both teams exchanged punts. With four minutes left, Dexter had first-and-10 at its own 21. Bowling Green’s Brock Faust intercepted a pass down field and returned it to Dexter’s 20. A clipping penalty on Bowling Green brought the ball back to the Bucs 49. 

Buccaneers quarterback Brady Goings completed a long pass to Dexter’s 14. Dexter’s defense held Bowling Green on two straight runs. With 3:56 showing, Bowling Green coach David Currier called time out. Facing fourth-and-6 from the 11, Goings missed Connor McCain in the back of the end zone.

Dexter took over at its 20 with 3:34 left. 

Bowling Green’s defense, led by Drake Spears, forced another punt. With 1:09 remaining, the Bucs had possession at Dexter’s 47 and seemed to find some energy.  

On first down, McCain took the handoff and got good yardage down to the Dexter 34 to move the chains. After a false start penalty, Cameron Cowart hauled in a pass from Goings and was stopped at Dexter’s 26. With 38 seconds on the clock, Goings and McCain connected for the Bowling Green touchdown to tie it 6-6. Goings split the uprights to give the Bucs the 7-6 lead and the win. 

Goings finished 4-of-7 passing for 62 yards and one touchdown. Cowart had two receptions for 46 yards. McCain carried three times for 34 yards. Grant Alexander had six carries for 17 yards. 

Bowling Green had six first downs in the game. 

Currier said he felt good about his team’s overall performance, but said there is room for improvement on both sides of the ball. 

“We made a few mistakes out there today simply because of the guys still learning the new system,” Currier said. “We just need to get a little better on our communication. The team is doing everything I have asked of them and playing hard. Dexter pushed us hard in the first part of the game. They continued to push us back. We have to get a little more consistent offensively. We are just glad to get the win over Dexter. They are a good football program.”

Currier praised McCain, Cowart and Spears for their play in the game. 

Bowling Green opens the 2014 campaign at home on Friday welcoming Columbia Academy to Franklinton. 

“This is my first year and I am feeling real comfortable with everything now,” Currier said. “I expect a lot of good things from this team.”

Currier was long-time head coach at Kentwood High School before coming to Bowling Green.

Ben’s Ford-Salem

In one 12-minute quarter, the Salem Wildcats edged the home-standing Eagles 6-0 in another defensive battle.

Ben’s Ford was minus senior standout running back Aaron Taylor, who was out with a sprained ankle.

Salem got the football first and kept the ball on the ground for five straight running plays.

With third down and 7 on its own 47, Salem connected on a 53-yard yard touchdown pass to Julius Paulk with 8:35 left.

Ben’s Ford’s Jordan Thomas blocked the extra point try to keep it at the 6-0 margin.. 

Ben’s Ford never threatened to score for the rest of the game. 

Eagle Josh Crain shined on defense. Crain had an interception with less than minute to go.

Ben’s Ford-Silliman

In a 15-minute quarter, the home fans saw their Eagles get outscored 22-8 by Silliman Institute.

The Eagles prevented a shutout when they scored with 46 seconds left in the game. Corey Caldwell scored on a run. A two-point conversion pass from Daniel Pittman to Garrett Pounds was successful.

Silliman then ran out the clock for the 22-8 win. 

Silliman led 6-0 after scoring on a 3-yard pass with 12:20 left.

The two-point conversion failed. 

At the 9:37 mark, Silliman scored on a 26-yard quarterback keeper to give the Wildcats a 16-0 lead. Silliman’s final score came on a 30-yard touchdown pass. 

Ben’s Ford offense took over at it own 20.

After another Pittman to Pounds pass put the Eagles at their 39.

The Eagles then became their own worst enemy as they were called for consecutive personal fouls. The Eagles then punted.

Coach Cole Holden said although improvement is needed in certain areas, he was proud of his team’s physical play. 

“Physically, we got after Salem and Silliman,” Holden said. “We need to continue to play with more emotion.”

Holden served as offensive coordinator before becoming head coach this season. 

“We have the same system and the staff in place that we always have,” Holden said. “The kids know what to do and doing what we ask. Up front, we have got to play more disciplined and assignment football.”

Holden praised quarterback Daniel Pittman, who moved from wide receiver. 

Pittman said the team needed to get better.

“We did okay tonight, but need to improve before the season opener,” Pittman said. “The offensive line blocked well, the receivers ran good routes and I just tried to put the ball on the money. Josh Moss and Garrett Pounds did a great job coming back to the football.”

Pittman replaced his brother, Destin, at quarterback.

Destin plays wide receiver this year.

“It has been a little pressure on me,” Daniel Pittman said. “I want to do better than Destin and get better stats. He did a really good job. The team has welcomed me at quarterback and we will be ready for the first game.”

Ben’s Ford hosts New Orleans Home School Friday for the season opener. 

“New Orleans Home School is a much improved football team,” Holden said. “They have a lot of seniors and they will be ready. We have to be ready to play if we want to get a win.”

Daniel Pittman finished 6-of-6 passing for 41 yards. He carried four times for 11 yards. 

Pounds had four receptions for 38 yards.

Destin Pittman had one catch for six yards and Josh Moss had one catch for 14 yards.

In other games, Prentiss Christian School defeated New Orleans Home School 20-12, and Salem edged Silliman 7-0.