Gautier Gators chomp their way to a jamboree win against East Central for week zero

HURLEY, Miss. (WXXV) – Tonight, the East Central Hornets hosted the Gautier Gators for their week one jamboree. 

East Central has 9 seniors returning to their roster, with only 7 returners on both offense and defense. hoping to use their depth to hold up against the Gautier Gators, who appeared in the 2024 5A state championship. 

The game kicked off with a fumble on the play, giving the ball to East Central, but after a scoreless turnover, the Gautier Gators got to work. 

In the first quarter, a slick handoff to running back Demetris Kimble put the Gators on the board with their first touchdown.

And their big plays weren’t just on offense. After switching to defense, cornerback Kingston McNeil intercepted the ball for the Gautier Gators. 

The athleticism on this team was super fun to watch. Quarterback Keon McNeil was crafty, placing the ball right where his teammates needed it.

Kingston McNeil’s interception set up another touchdown for Gautier, and with a successful extra point, the Gators extended their lead to 14–0.

The East Central Hornets put up a good fight, but ultimately could not outsmart the gators’ playbook. 

Wide receiver Dylan Barajas was quick on his feet and able to bring the hornets closer and closer to the touchdown zone, but couldn’t close it out. 

The jamboree ended with a final score of 21 – 2, with the Gautier Gators chomping their way to a win.