A banged up Hinds Community College team, still feeling the effects of a 32-point loss to Northwest, looks to keep its South Division record perfect tonight against struggling Copiah-Lincoln.

Because of homecoming, kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 in Raymond.

The No. 5 Eagles will be without freshman defensive lineman Trey Vardiman (sprained knee) and linebacker Chris Marshall (Bruised sternum). Former Vicksburg High standout Jason Myers and Matthew Williams will also see limited action for what Hinds defensive coordinator Jeff Terrill called “mental injuries.” He would not elaborate.

“I think this team is still a little shell-shocked from the Northwest loss,” Terrill said this morning. “I still don’t know if we’ve gotten over it. It’s one of those lingering things.”

Hinds beat East Central a week ago, 14-7, in a less-than-impressive showing.

“We have to tip our hats to East Central because they came out and got after it,” Terrill said.

Co-Lin (3-4, 1-2 South Division) ranks near the bottom in every offensive category and near the bottom defensively of the 12-team Mississippi Junior College Athletic Association.

Fourth-string quarterback Odell Bradley, a former Hinds AHS star who originally signed with Hinds but after realizing he lived in Hermanville, in Copiah County, he signed with the Wolves.

“We are definitely struggling offensively,” said Broome, whose team handed Hinds its only regular season loss a year ago. “We are without some of our key players on offense and that limits what we can do. We have to just go back to the basics.”

A struggling team could be just what Hinds needs as it faces its last three division opponents before the playoffs. The Eagles (6-0, 3-0 South) face Jones next week and then a showdown at No. 14 Southwest in Summit.

Co-Lin has beaten Hinds two of the last three times the two schools have met, both times in Wesson.

“They are going to come in and play the game of their lives,” Terrill said. “They have a very strong defensive front. Our offense is definitely going to have to come to play.”