MERIDIAN —
For homecoming, East Central displayed a Indian dream-catcher logo on the 50-yard line. Against heavily favored Hinds, the Warriors dreams came true, as East Central took down the Eagles 26-21 Saturday.
“We just caught a dream,” East Central head coach Brian Anderson said. “This team was not supposed to beat those guys, but our players didn’t know that, you couldn’t tell them that.”
Things couldn’t have started better for the Warriors. After forcing the Eagles to punt on their opening drive, East Central was pinned at its own six-yard line. The Warriors would then go where they have gone plenty of time this season during a time of need, running back Keshun Shipp.
The talented sophomore drove down the field, carry by carry, taking the ball seven times for 49 yards on the opening drive and bringing the Warriors down to the Hinds four-yard line. Brock Hall would do the rest for the Warriors, as he rushed in a touchdown on a quarterback keeper to put East Central up 6-0.
Hinds would strike back, however, as quarterback Christopher Nelson hit receiver Quantavius Leslie in stride for a 57-yard touchdown later in the quarter to put the Eagles up 7-6.
The Eagles would score two more touchdowns before the half, and it appeared they were on the verge of putting away East Central, as they headed into the half with a 21-6 lead.
To make matters worse, Ship injured his foot breaking a tackle late in the second quarter and returned in the second half on the sideline with a boot and crutches.
“It was a big blow to lose (Shipp),” Anderson said. “There again, we weren’t supposed to beat a team like this, we weren’t supposed to be able to do it without him, but we did.”
The Warrior comeback started with 5:12 left in the third quarter, when Hall came up big again for his team. The speedy quarterback found a hole in the defense and sprinted 55 yards down the left sidelines on third and three for the touchdown to bring the score to 21-12. East Central would miss the extra point for the second time in the game, but the Warriors could smell the upset.
“I just came out there and tried to give us some life,” Hall said. “All I needed to see was one hole, and I made the play. I knew we were back in the game then.”
Then things started to turn.
The Hinds offense that seemed to steadily roll in the first half became anemic, as the Warriors were able to provide pressure and fluster the Eagles.
After forcing the Eagles to punt early the fourth quarter, East Central was ready to strike.
With 13:26 left in the game, freshman running back Martin Johnson took a hand off and broke to the edge, getting behind the Hinds defense and busting up the sidelines for a 66-yard touchdown run to put the Warriors on top 26-21.
“I was thinking we needed to score again,” Anderson said. “You can never be to cautious, that is what was going through my mind.”
What turned out as a dream for East Central could have easily been a nightmare, as Hinds had the ball at the Warrior 15 yard line with 1:27 left to go. However, a incomplete pass on second down and a three-yard loss on third down set up a fourth and nine for Hinds with the game on the line. After not finding an open receiver, Nelson was sacked in the backfield by a bevy of Warrior defenders to complete the miracle comeback for East Central.
“I never thought about losing the game,” Anderson said. “Not ever did it cross my mind. When the sack happened, it was total jubilation, total relief, it was unreal.
After the game, Anderson spoke with his team and congratulated them for never giving up. The head coach has preached all season, anything is possible. Saturday his players proved him to be true.
“If you have a little bit of faith, you can do anything,” Anderson told his team. “You can move a mountain, and believe me guys, you just moved a mountain.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
East Central Community College's Kyle Koch gets surrounded by Hinds Community College defenders after a reception on a screen play Saturday in Decatur. Paula Merritt
-
East Central Community College's Keshun Shipp gets through the middle of the Hinds Community College defense Saturday in Decatur. Paula Merritt
-
East Central Community College's Brock Hall gets off a pass as Hinds Community College's Jadarius Hicks applies pressure Saturday in Decatur. Paula Merritt
-
East Central Community College's Freeman Gray hauls in a reception near the sideline against Hinds Community College's Kenya Dennis Saturday in Decatur. Paula Merritt
Discussion
Warriors upset Eagles for homecoming win
- Sports
-
-
Newton County beats Houston 10-0 to claim 7th fast-pitch championshi
Players from Newton County’s dugout barely made it to the foul line before a celebratory dogpile ensued here Saturday. Indeed, winning never gets old.
The Lady Cougars blanked Houston 10-0 Saturday at Freedom Ridge Park, completing an easy sweep of their best-of-three, Class 4A State Championship Series and gaining a measure of revenge after falling short a year ago. -
Rockets roar by East Central, claim 5A crown
Trae Embry took somewhat of a gamble when he accepted the softball
coaching job at Neshoba Central -- leaving his hometown and his comfort zone for a
new opportunity. - Newton County wins state
-
Enterprise falls twice to East Webster
It just wasn't to be.
After 16 innings of big plays and tense moments, the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs fell just short of their third MHSAA Class 2A State Fast-Pitch Softball Championship on Saturday, dropping a 3-1 decision in the decisive game three. But EHS head coach Davey Dewitt said he was pleased with the way his team played, battling East Webster to the last out. -
Richmond leaves Clarkdale for Neshoba Central
Former Clarkdale High School head football coach Chris Richmond is leaving the team to serve as a position coach at Neshoba Central next season. Richmond, who went 1-21 in his two seasons as the Bulldogs head coach said the move to Neshoba will help him stay closer to his family
-
Neshoba Central shuts out East Central 8-0
Neshoba Central’s last two rounds of the state softball playoffs involved grueling series wins over Lake Cormorant and New Hope. And while no one knows what today holds in the Class 5A State Championship Series, the Lady Rockets zipped through East Central like a hot knife through butter in Ridgeland Friday night.
-
Enterprise tops East Webster 6-3
Just one more win.
That's how far away the Enterprise Lady Bulldogs are from closing out an amazing season. After beginning the year 4-8, EHS has won 15 of their last 19 games, including Friday afternoon's 6-3 win over East Webster in the MHSAA Class 2A Fast-Pitch Softball Championships. -
Newton County romps Houston 16-3
In the second inning of the opening game of their best-of-three, Class 4A State Championship Series, Newton County left the bases loaded without pushing across a run and coach Justin Chaney said he was worried his squad wasn’t taking advantage of a key opportunity.
-
Upton, Braves slam Dodgers 8-5
Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.
-
Enterprise in search of 3rd fast-pitch title
Davey Dewitt has accomplished a lot in his first year as head softball coach at Enterprise High School. After a runner-up performance in 2A slow-pitch last fall, Enterprise and Dewitt have returned to the state championships in fast-pitch.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
