By Jamie Wachter / executive sports editor
SCOOBA — It has been an era of firsts at East Mississippi Community College under second-year coach Buddy Stephens.
Last season, the Lions hosted their first MACJC state playoff game.
This year, EMCC reached its highest ranking at No. 2. The Lions also qualified for the state playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time. And Saturday at Sullivan-Windham Field, EMCC advanced to its first state championship game with a 26-16 decision against Jones County Junior College.
"I don't know that we've ever done that," EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. "There's been a lot of firsts we've had the last two years, and I don't know if we've ever done that.
"Right now, we're excited about the opportunity to win a state championship."
To get that title next Saturday at home, the Lions will have to go through defending state champion Gulf Coast — a 58-21 winner against Coahoma in the other opening-round playoff game.
Still, the Lions' goal is to make history.
"This is big here — history in the making," sophomore wide receiver Lance Lewis said.
Added sophomore defensive back Anthony Hines: "It feels great. It's going to be the first time in history that Scooba, Miss., ever did that."
The Lions, who lost 45-35 to Pearl River in last year's first round of the playoffs, lost their lone game this year to Gulf Coast. The Bulldogs earned a 43-26 decision in Scooba when EMCC was ranked No. 2 in the nation.
In order to make that history, the Lions will have to exact some revenge. Still, the biggest thing for Stephens — a former national championship assistant coach at Pearl River — is that next step on the list of firsts at EMCC: The state title.
"I'd be happy to get one more first," he said.
TURNOVER TROUBLES
The Lions and Bobcats struggled to maintain possession Saturday. JCJC lost two fumbles and each of the Bobcats' quarterbacks — Brian Robinson and Robert Ross — threw an interception. Ross was also picked off on a two-point conversion attempt by T.J. Ballou. The former Northeast Lauderdale standout returned it 100 yards for the score for EMCC.
The Lions' offense didn't fare much better. EMCC All-American quarterback Randall Mackey threw two interceptions — one in the end zone, and backup Brad Henderson was also picked off in the end zone. The Lions also lost a fumble inside the red zone.
"We had way too many mistakes there offensively or we could've really done some damage," Stephens said. "We've got to go back and correct that. We've got some timing issues that we've got to fix."
IN THE LIONS' DEN
EMCC entered the game with a high-flying offense — averaging more than 478 yards and 36 points per game — but it was the Lions' defense that carried the load Saturday.
The Bobcats were held to minus-7 yards rushing in the opening half and just 82 total yards before intermission. Robinson, JCJC's starting quarterback, was held to minus-25 yards on 10 attempts. EMCC had four sacks in the game.
"We had an idea of what they wanted to do, offensively and defensively," Stephens added. "We knew they were going to throw a few wrinkles at us, and that was evident by the fake field goal. But, all in all, when you get down to this game, you don't fool a lot of people, you just have to run what you run and try to work on it."
