Long Beach snaps regional losing streak with 16-14 victory over Gautier

LONG BEACH, Miss. (WXXV) — The Long Beach Bearcats made history Friday night, defeating the Gautier Gators 16-14 to secure their first regional victory since 2018.

Coming off a tough loss the previous week, the Bearcats entered the matchup determined to bounce back and end their years-long drought in regional play.

Gautier came out strong on the opening kickoff as Tommie Miller Jr. returned Aiden Downey’s kick deep into Long Beach territory before Bentley Gulott made a potentially touchdown-saving tackle. The return gave the Gators excellent field position near midfield.

However, the Bearcats’ defense stood tall. Gautier quarterback Keion McNeil faced pressure on second down, forcing him toward the sideline before throwing the ball away. On third down, McNeil looked to connect with Devon Garrett down the sideline but overthrew his intended target, giving Long Beach an opportunity to take over.

Starting deep in their own territory, the Bearcats leaned on their ground game to move the football.

Quarterback Derek McDonald opened the drive with a six-yard run before handing the ball off to Lamonte Brown, who broke free on a sweep and advanced the ball to the 40-yard line.

Running back Gavin Sutherlin followed with a tough run of his own, picking up another first down and keeping the Bearcats’ offense moving.

As the opening quarter wound down, McDonald kept the ball on another rushing attempt but was met by Gautier’s Brandon Crayton, who delivered a big tackle.

The two teams battled throughout the contest, but Long Beach ultimately came out on top with a narrow 16-14 victory.

The win marked a significant milestone for the Bearcats, ending an eight-year drought without a regional victory and giving the program a reason to celebrate.

For Long Beach, Friday night’s win was more than just another victory in the standings. It was a long-awaited breakthrough for the Bearcats’ football program.