PORT GIBSON — The Port Gibson Blue Waves jumped out to a big lead and then thwarted Jefferson County’s late rally to defeat the Tigers 28-12 and improve to 3-0 on the season.

Port Gibson scored 15 points in a span of 1:14 late in the first quarter. Tommy McCaplin scored on a 14-yard run with 3:20 left, Darrius Moore added a safety at the 3:12 mark, and Michel Duncan had a 20-yard touchdown run with 2:06 remaining.

The Blue Waves added to their lead on a 43-yard touchdown run by Silento Sayles early in the second quarter and they went into halftime with a 21-0 lead. Ladarian Evans scored on a 40-yard run with 5:30 to go in the third quarter for a 28-0 lead.

Jefferson County finally got on the scoreboard with 1:58 left in the third quarter when Cody Gilchrist scored on a 3-yard run, but the two-point conversion run was no good and the Tigers trailed 28-6. They tried to make the game interesting when Rashaad Bradley scored on an 8-yard run to make it a two-possession game at 28-12, but again fell short on the two-point conversion.

The Tigers finished with just 198 yards of total offense. The passing game was not very effective as Bradley completed just three of 15 passes with one interception for 70 yards. The lone bright spot offensively was Arthur Norton, who had 10 carries for 96 yards.

Jefferson County forced three Port Gibson turnovers, but it was not enough to overcome such a big deficit. Jadarius Johnson and Charlie Clark each had a fumble recovery while De’Anthony Blake picked off a pass. Clark was the team’s leading tackler with seven solos and three assists.

Jefferson County (1-2) plays at East Marion Friday night with a 7:30 kickoff.