RAYMOND — Hinds Community College was riding a wave of momentum entering Thursday’s game against Pearl River Community College. It took about a quarter for it to break upon the rocks of a shaky defense and a sputtering offense.

Pearl River scored 21 points in the first quarter and then pulled away with two late second-half touchdowns to beat Hinds 42-20 on homecoming night in Raymond.
Darious Leggett rushed for three touchdowns for Pearl River (1-3), including an 8-yarder in the third quarter after Hinds had gotten within eight points.

Hinds (1-3, 1-1 MACJC South) shut out Southwest Mississippi last week for its first win of the season, but has given up 40 or more points in all three of its losses. Its two touchdowns against Pearl River were either scored by the special teams or set up by them.

Former St. Aloysius star DeMichael Harris returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, and a blocked punt set up a 1-yard touchdown run by former Central Hinds star Brian King late in the third.

Spencer Cole also kicked two field goals for the Eagles.

John Hightower caught four passes for 86 yards for Hinds, and Kevin Ratliff had 11 tackles. Ratliff is third in the MACJC in tackles this season.

Pearl River, meanwhile, rushed for 330 yards as a team.

Hinds will go on the road next Thursday to play Mississippi Gulf Coast (1-3, 1-1).