BLUEFIELD, Va. – A snow-laden Mitchell Stadium paired with intermittent snow and rain showers throughout the game didn't allow either team to excel in their traditional offenses, as the No. 5 Georgetown College Tigers took down Bluefield, 37-20, on Saturday afternoon in a sloppy Mid-South Conference East Division matchup.
 
Bluefield falls to 3-6 on the season and 1-3 in MSC East games, while the Tigers' 2014 mark improves to 7-1 and 4-0 in divisional contests.
 
The Tigers began with possession, but Neal Pawsat's first toss of the game was intercepted by Anthony Rivers for the early turnover. But, the takeaway never materialized for the Rams due to a fumble and recovery by the Tigers.
 
Georgetown then struck first as Demonte Smith ran in the first of his three scores on the day with 9:40 remaining in the first quarter. Smith's one-yard punch in capped a six-play, 40-yard drive. A low extra point attempt was blocked by the Rams' Cameron Carter and returned for the two-point safety by Cordell Johns to make the tally 6-2.
 
Carlton Toussaint snagged his sixth interception of the season on Georgetown's second-quarter opening series, returning the pick-off 42 yards to the Tigers' 16-yard line.
 
The Rams wasted no time in capitalizing on this turnover, thanks to a 16-yard connection from Ashten Dixon to Rodrell Smith with 10:47 on the clock. The score earned BC an 8-6 lead since James Gunn's PAT try was blocked by the Tigers.
 
Following a Tiger three-and-out, the Rams put together a four-play, 63-yard scoring drive capitalized by Sam Bennett's 52-yard touchdown run. The Rams went for two, but Dixon's pass attempt was unsuccessful and left BC with a 14-6 lead.
 
The Tigers' strong passing game led by Pawsat began to find its momentum in the elements on the next drive. Georgetown's slinger connected on three-straight passes for 54 yards to advance the Tigers to the Rams' 11-yard line. From there, the Tigers hit the ground, with Smith rushing in his second of the game. Pawsat's two-point conversion try then failed as well, making the Tigers' deficit 14-12.
 
Bluefield faced a three-and-out next, but a bad snap sent the ball over punter Daniel Griffin's head and went out of the end zone for a Tiger safety, tying the game 14-14.
 
Alex Slabaugh returned the ensuing kick 21 yards, then Pawsat quickly advanced the Tigers into scoring position, completing four-straight passes for 27 yards. His next attempt drew a pass interference penalty on the Rams in the end zone and opened the door for Alan Williams' two-yard score with under a minute remaining in the half. Josh Depp converted the PAT and earned the Tigers a 21-14 advantage at the break.
 
The Rams opened with the ball in the second half, but another snap on a punt attempt rolled through the endzone and gave the Tigers a 23-14 lead.
 
Neither team could find momentum on the following possessions, as drives resulted in a pair of punts for both sides.
 
The Tigers broke through again late in the quarter by capitalizing on a seven-play, 50-yard drive after a short punt from Bluefield. A trio of rushes advanced GC 27 yards before Pawsat connected on a 12-yard toss to Smith, who then finished the series with three-straight runs including his one-yard score. The kick was successful, pushing the advantage to 30-14.
 
An interception from Dixon closed the third quarter and the Tigers used just three plays for 45 yards to take the 37-14 lead, coming on a Terry Johnson run from 18 yards out.
 
Bluefield responded with a nine-play, 70-yard drive over 4:07, led by backup quarterback Armani Ford. Ford found Quincey Mock on a fourth-and-11 to keep the drive alive, then Adrian Pope carried the Rams the rest of the way with three-straight runs, including the 19-yard scoring play. Gunn's PAT attempt sailed wide to bring the score to 37-20.
 
The Tigers threatened one more time, but the Rams' defense never quit, as BC Cordell Johns halted the GC's run on a fourth-and-goal attempt.
 
Georgetown outgained BC 310-214 on the day, splitting their attack with 131 yards passing from Pawsat and 179 yards rushing. Bluefield's run game was stifled by both the wet conditions and a stingy Tiger defense, who allowed just a pair of lengthy runs from BC and only 172 yards on the ground.
 
Bennett's bid for four-straight 100-yard rushing games came up short, with the running back totaling a game high 93 yards on the ground on 17 attempts. Pope added 57 yards, also on 17 carries, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in his career.
 
Gabe Spencer led the Rams with 10 tackles, followed by nine from Toussaint and seven from both Johns and Harry Casseus. Casseus and Darius Flowers were in on a sack, while RJ Buford also got the the GC quarterback once.
 
The Rams close their home schedule next week, hosting Lindsey Wilson College in a 1:30 p.m. meeting.