Articles by Jim O'Hara

On a night when they were hoping to finally make a statement in the Gulf South Conference, the Shorter Hawks were left speechless.

In their Gulf South Conference opener Thursday night at Barron Stadium, the Hawks rallied from a halftime deficit – the first time Shorter has trailed at the break this year – to turn in their best outing in the final 30 minutes and hand the Mississippi College Choctaws a 27-14 defeat.

The Shorter Hawks clearly understand what’s ahead of them Thursday night and, even more, are fully aware that it’s time to put a complete game together when they host the Mississippi College Choctaws, who have begun the process of returning to the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference, at Barron Stadium in a conference showdown starting at 7:30 p.m.

Sparked by a defense that picked off a record five passes — a record three by junior safety Jordan Shaw including a record-tying 100-yard interception returned for a touchdown — and an offense that went airborne for three first half touchdown passes, the Hawks won their second straight game of the season in as many outings Saturday afternoon when they handed the homestanding Mars Hill Lions a 27-13 non-conference defeat.