FULTON — Backup quarterback Brad Henderson threw for two touchdowns and ran for a pair of scores in leading the No. 7 Lions of East Mississippi to a 28-6 road victory against Itawamba on Saturday afternoon in front of a homecoming crowd at ICC’s Lambert Stadium.
A redshirt freshman, Henderson played the entire contest in place of All-American Randall Mackey, who sat out the game with nagging injuries to his knee and ankle. On the heels of last week’s 88-yard rushing effort, including a 49-yard touchdown run, against Northeast Mississippi, Henderson’s starting assignment against ICC was the first of his collegiate career.
After EMCC freshman Izauea Lanier picked off his third interception of the season – all coming in the past two games – on Itawamba’s opening possession, Henderson capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive with a 6-yard scoring run up the middle with 8:39 left in the first quarter.
Special teams came into play early, as both teams capitalized on blocked punt opportunities late in the opening period. After Itawamba’s Jerhushua Williams blocked and recovered a Phillip Dimino punt at the 3-yard line, ICC starting quarterback Ty Ferrell took the next snap up the middle and into the end zone. The point-after-touchdown attempt was blocked, keeping the score at 7-6 with 5:19 remaining in the quarter.
Despite turning the ball over by fumbling at midfield on their next offensive possession, the Lions’ defense forced a three-and-out and set up EMCC’s next score with a blocked punt of their own by wide receiver Derrick Steele. Four plays later, Henderson found sophomore Lance Lewis in the middle of the end zone for a 23-yard scoring strike with 39 seconds left in the opening period.
On the visitors’ next possession, a 26-yard reverse by sophomore Bill Franks initiated a nine-play, 71-yard scoring drive that culminated with Henderson’s second scoring burst of the game – from 4 yards out – and third of the season. Brett Spencer’s third of four accurate PAT tries on the day put the Lions on top by a 21-6 tally with 9:18 left in the half.
The home-standing Indians looked to cut into the deficit on their ensuing possession, but an incomplete pass from Bret Jefcoat out of a fake field-goal formation on a fourth-and-long attempt kept it a two-score contest. After the two teams traded turnovers late in the half, EMCC benefitted from a successful fourth-and-10 conversion and scored on the final play of the first half. A play after they teamed up to keep the drive alive with an 11-yard connection, Lewis went up high between a pair of ICC defenders to haul in a 30-yard Henderson aerial to make the score 28-6 at the break.
Lewis finished the afternoon with a season-high eight catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns – his eighth and ninth scoring grabs of the year.
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Mackey-less Lions prevail at Itawamba
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Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Eric Neel spent three seasons coach at East Central. The Hornets played in three state championship games.
Neel then coached the past three years at Wayne County, leading the War Eagles to three straight Class 5A fast-pitch state crowns.
And now, he doesn’t see why the same can’t occur at Quitman. After guiding Wayne County to its third straight championship Saturday, Neel resigned his position in Waynesboro on Thursday to replace Kacie Roberson at Quitman. -
Unexpected Honor
Winning a state championship, that Blake McMullen expected.
To be named the Player of the Year in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, that caught the Southeast Lauderdale senior off guard. -
RCA’s Lee and pair of Generals chosen for All-Star tilt
Russell Christian Academy senior Camryn Lee and Newton County Academy duo Clay Upton and Dillon Williams will wrap up their senior seasons today.
The local trio will play in the MAIS All-Star Class A game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson at 2 p.m. The Class AA-AAA game will follow. -
McFarland named first-team All-American for Jones County
The honors continue to come in for the Jones County Junior College softball program.
Pitcher Ginger Lonergan and centerfielder Relanda McFarland were both named to the NJCAA Division II All-American first-team on Thursday. -
A Family Affair
Five days. Two state titles. One family.
It’d be hard to find a family that had a better week than the one Robbi and Shay Cooper just experienced. -
Roundup — Stephens receives Sekul Award
Adding to his impressive collection of coaching hardware, East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens was presented with the 2011 George Sekul Award during the All-American Football Foundation’s Banquet of Champions held earlier this month at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
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The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966. -
Ramey shines again, hurls Tigers to MHSAA Class 3A crown
The bar was set pretty high.
After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
Southeast wins MHSAA Class 3A Championsip
Slideshow from the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game between Southeast Lauderdale and Kossuth.
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Briarwood to host Emerald Coast Golf Tour in June
Professional golf is coming to Meridian.
The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will be holding the Meridian Pro-Am Classic at Briarwood Country Club June 26-29. - More Sports Headlines
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