East Central Warriors hoping to finish strong

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October 14, 2009

ECCC set for division road battle at Co-Lin

from school reports The Meridian Star Wed Oct 14, 2009, 11:18 PM CDT

With two games remaining, East Central Community College’s Warriors are focused on completing the 2009 campaign on a positive note.

The first challenge comes against Copiah-Lincoln Community College Thursday night, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. on the Wesson campus.

The Wolves are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the MACJC South Division following last week’s 42-25 homecoming victory over nationally-ranked Pearl River Community College. East Central is 2-5 and 0-4 following a 49-19 drubbing by sixth-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

“We know we have another big challenge ahead of us with Co-Lin,” said Warrior interim head coach Brian Anderson. “They are really playing well, especially offensively, as indicated by the number of points scored against a very good Pearl River team, our opponent next week. We can still finish the season with victories if we execute our game plan and minimize our mistakes.”

Despite the losing record, the Warriors continue to have one of the state’s top offensive units.

East Central’s rushing offense is rated second-best in the state, behind Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. The Warriors average 202.4 yards per game, compared to the league-leading Bulldogs with 346.3 yards. The Co-Lin rushing offense is ranked tenth, with a 135.3-yard average.

Quarterback Emmanuel Taylor is the Warriors’ leading rusher, compiling 609 yards on 87 carries, a seven-yard average. He is averaging 87 yards per contest and has scored three touchdowns. Taylor, who ranks fifth in rushing yardage in the state, is a product of Early County High School in Blakely, Ga.

Co-Lin’s rushing attack is led by sophomore Tywon Lee, who has amassed 529 yards on 98 carries, a 5.4-yard average per carry. The Magee High School product is averaging 75.6 yards per game and has scored five touchdowns. He is ranked sixth in the state.

East Central also has one of the state’s top passing units, thanks to the sophomore signal caller. Taylor has completed 119 of 205 passes for 1,567 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is averaging 223.9 yards passing per game, rated sixth-best in the state.

Co-Lin’s passing offense is ranked seventh and averages 185 yards per contest. Quarterback Percy Turner has completed 112 of 187 passes for 1,258 yards and 11 touchdowns. Turner is a freshman and product of Jefferson County High School in Fayette.

Overall, EC’s offense is ranked third, averaging 420.1 yards per game. The Co-Lin offense is rated eighth with a 320.3-yard average.

Co-Lin has the state’s second-best punter, as sophomore Tyler Fitzgerald is averaging 38.9-yards per attempt. He is a product of Simpson Academy

Warrior punter Chad Mangum averages 34.4 yards per attempt and is ranked tenth. The Oak Hill Academy product continues to rank high among individual scoring for kickers. Mangum, a freshman, is ranked fifth with 40 points. He has made 17 of 19 PATs and has connected on four of 10 field goals.

On defense, the Warriors are ranked fourth in passing defense but continue to struggle in rushing defense.

EC is allowing 167 yards in the air and 219.4 yards on the ground.

Freshman linebacker Octavious Gilbert leads Warrior tacklers with 49 solo stops and 23 assists. Gilbert, a product of Prattville (Ala.) High School, is also ranked third in the state.

Co-Lin has the state’s top passing defense, allowing just 118.4 yards per game. The Wolves are seventh in rushing defense with a 140.7-yard average.

Overall, Co-Lin has the second-best defense, allowing just 259.3 yards per game. EC’s defense is rated last with a 386.4-yard average.

The Wolves have the league’s top punt returner in freshman Fred Fuller, who has six returns for 155 yards, a 25.8-yard average. His longest return is 80 yards and a touchdown. Fuller is a product of Hazlehurst High School.

EC’s CJ Estelle is ranked fifth in punt returns, with 11 attempts for 118 yards. His longest return is 70 yards and a touchdown. Estelle is a product of Childersburg (Ala.) High School.

The Warriors host Pearl River Community College in the season finale Thursday, Oct. 22. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Bailey Stadium.

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