RAYMOND — Hinds coach Gene Murphy called it the defining moment of his team’s season.

Leading by just a point, Hinds went on a 65-yard scoring drive that ate five minutes of the fourth quarter clock and resulted in Matthew Willis’ 2-yard TD run with 5:21 left. The Eagles’ defense made it stand up, and they left the field with a 20-12 win over Southwest Mississippi Community College on Saturday afternoon.

“That drive was the defining moment of our season,” Murphy said. “To get this win today, was big, big, big for this program.”

The win keeps Hinds’ playoff chances in the MACJC’s South Division alive at 2-2 heading into the final two games against Pearl River and Gulf Coast. It also clinched the Eagles’ (5-2 overall) first winning season since 2007.

“We knew it was do or die. It means everything to me that we will have a winning season and we still have a chance at the playoffs,” said offensive tackle Danny Bunch, a former Warren Central star. “To be able to help change the program around means an awful lot to me.”

Another former Warren Central star had a role in Saturday’s win. Wide receiver Cordell Valentine caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Deon Anthony late in the first quarter to tie the game at 6. It was Valentine’s fourth touchdown reception of the season.

“Just had to concentrate on that one,” Valentine said of the low throw from Anthony, who made his first start of the season in place of regular quarterback Anthony Sheppard.

Anthony finished with 88 yards rushing and was 7-of-14 passing for 67 yards and one score. Willis rushed for 88 yards and a TD on 16 carries.

Hinds had a chance to go up two scores, but Craig McCraney missed a 35-yard field goal after having a high snap in the third quarter.

Southwest (2-5, 0-4) responded with a 36-yard TD run by Vintavious Cooper that made it 13-12. Justin Holt pulled his PAT try wide, keeping Hinds in the lead with 13:02 left.

Following an exchange of punts, Hinds took over at the 35 with 9:59 left. Sheppard made his first appearance of the day and completed three passes for 36 yards, the last going 21 yards to Willis for a first down at the 27. A 17-yard Sheppard scramble got the ball to the 8 and the Eagles pounded it in from there.

Southwest had one chance to answer, but a sack by D.J. Beddington for a 14-yard loss forced the Bears into a long fourth-and-25. Cooper’s fourth down pass fell incomplete and the Eagles ran out the final 22 seconds.