The Hinds Community College football team made the long trek to Fulton on Thursday hoping to come with a victory, and the Eagles were successful in doing so, defeating the Itawamba Community College Indians, 13-10.

The win moved Hinds to 3-4 overall (1-3 South division), while the Indians fell to 2-5 (2-2 North division) in this non-divisional matchup.

Itawamba wasted absolutely no time in jumping on the board, as the Indians scored on their first drive of the game. Quarterback Kenard Springer, a former minor league baseball player, threw a bullet to Jeremy Word from 25 yards out for a quick six. Heath Hutchins added the PAT to put Itawamba up 7-0 with 10:11 left in the first quarter.

The Eagles would knot things at seven two possessions later, when Hinds quarterback Wesley Mounger of Clinton threw his eighth touchdown pass of the year to Chris Lewis of Jackson. The 16-yard strike and point after by Parker Ware of Brandon made it 7-7 with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Hutchins would later attempt a 36-yard field goal that would have given the Indians the lead, but was unsuccessful, and the score remained the same until just before the half.

Ware would give the Eagles the lead going into the break, when his 30-yard field goal split the uprights to put Hinds ahead 10-7 with 36 seconds left in the half.

A combination of bad offense and good defense contributed to a scoreless third quarter, and Hinds continued to lead 10-7 heading into the final frame.

Tre Kent of Itawamba matched Ware in the kicking game early in the fourth quarter, booting a 29-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with 13:04 left in the fourth.

The game would continue to be controlled on the defensive side of the ball, with Hinds leading the charge. The Eagles would throttle two Itawamba possessions, one deep in Eagle territory, late in the game to keep the score tied.

Itawamba had a tough string of luck on their final possession of the game, fumbling the ball on their own 17-yard line with just 1:39 to play. Hinds would run the clock down to the wire on three running plays up the gut to set up the dramatics.
Ware would cap off the drama by powering a 28-yard field goal through the post with just three seconds left in the game.

Ware, who was an All-State honoree a year ago, is a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals this season.

Hinds will host Gulf Coast Community College next Thursday at 7 p.m. in Raymond.