RAYMOND – Larry Warner will be looking to make Hinds Community College pay for overlooking him tonight when his Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs meet Hinds in the Eagles’ annual homecoming game at Joe Renfroe Stadium.

Warner, a two-time Vicksburg Post Offensive Player of the Year, is a backup tailback for coach Steve Campbell’s Bulldogs, who are coming off a stunning 55-48 win over defending national Junior College champion Pearl River last Thursday in Perkinston.

&#8220I know Larry will be excited to play against us, especially since we didn’t protect him,” Hinds coach J. Mike Smith said. &#8220Larry’s done a good job for them and I know he’s a great kid who has a tremendous heart. He’s one we definitely missed on.”

Back in February, Warner signed with Southern University of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He was coming off a senior season at Warren Central where he rushed for a county best 1,852 yards and 18 touchdowns.

But when he didn’t qualify at Southern, and since Hinds had passed on him, Warner found his way to Campbell at Perkinston, thanks to a collegiate connection from Delta State.

&#8220Brian Oakes, who coaches at Warren Central, was a graduate assistant at Delta State and he is big buddies with my offensive coordinator, Chad Huff, who, of course, played at Delta State when I was there,” said Campbell who led the Statesmen to the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship.

&#8220Oakes told Chad about Larry and we needed a running back.”

Warner has rushed for nearly 300 yards this season as a back-up to Gulf Coast sophomore Dantrell Savage.

&#8220He’s playing really good for us and he’s a good fit for our offense,” Campbell said.

Smith says Gulf Coast (4-1, 3-1) runs a version of the Utah offense that Urban Meyer ran before leaving for Florida and the SEC.

&#8220It’s basically the Utah concept but they run a lot of option out of it and they execute it really well. With Warner and the Savage kid, they have two good backs along with an experienced quarterback in Eric Walden,” Smith said.

Gulf Coast’s upset of Pearl River left them tied in the South Division at 3-1. Hinds is 2-2 following last week’s 38-6 win at East Central.

&#8220If we can win out, we’ll win the South Division,” Campbell said. &#8220But we know we’ve got a tough game with Hinds because J. Mike does a great job and he’s again got some great athletes.”

Smith said the Eagles will have to beat both Gulf Coast and Jones next week, then have Southwest get beat, in order to make the playoffs.

&#8220We’ve got to put our best foot forward and bring our A game. We played well at East Central and we know how important it is for us to get one against Gulf Coast,” Smith said.