SCOOBA — With a berth in the MACJC state title game on the line, the East Mississippi Community College football team came through in a big way Saturday afternoon at Sullivan-Windham Field. The Lions put on a defensive clinic in their 26-16 victory against visiting Jones County.
With the win, the Lions (9-1) advanced to the state title game — EMCC’s first appearance in the championship game — Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field against defending state champion Gulf Coast. The Bulldogs (9-1) defeated Coahoma 58-21 in the other first-roound game.
"Our defense played really well," East Mississippi coach Buddy Stephens said. "We asked them to take the game into their hands and they rose to the challenge."
After each team's first drives stalled, EMCC got things going offensively with quarterback Randall Mackey hooking up with big-play receiver Lance Lewis for a 74-yard touchdown pass. Lewis had five catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns on the day.
"Last year we had Leon Berry and I feel like I'm stepping in to fill his shoes," Lewis said.
That would be the only score of the first half for either team as the defenses took control and while both bent neither would break.
However, a pivotal point of the game came just prior to the close of the first half.
Following an interception on a third-and-8 by JCJC quarterback Brian Robinson there was an altercation between Robinson and Lions linebacker Alvin Ellis. Personal fouls were flagged on both players that offset and both were ejected from the game.
The Lions and Bobcats exchanged three-and-outs to begin the second half before JCJC got a 38-yard field goal from Jacob Chancellor to pull within 7-3.
The EMCC offense could not answer back on the next drive. However, a 48-yard punt by Phillip Dimino would pin JCJC inside its own 2.
Two plays later Anthony Hines picked off his second pass of the day and returned it 20 yards for a Lion touchdown. Hines has four interceptions in his past two games and a team-high six on the season.
"Coach just told me to stay back at all times and drop into my zone and the ball just came to me," said Hines.
Added Stephens: “Anthony, I think he’s getting lucky. But he says, he’s good. I don’t know which one’s which, but he sure has been getting a few the last few ballgames.”
After EMCC's defense — which allowed just 238 yards and only 78 on the ground — again forced the Bobcats to go three-and-out, the Lions extended their lead to 21-3 as Lewis hauled in a 14-yard pass from backup quarterback Brad Henderson for his second score of the day.
“Lance expects a tremendous amount from himself and so do we,” Stephens said. “He’s starting to play to the expectations of a lot of people that they’ve had for him over the years.
“He’s an exciting man to watch.”
JCJC responded by putting together a 50-yard drive that was capped off by backup quarterback Robert Ross finding Anthony Jackson on a short touchdown pass. That would be the only offensive touchdown of the day for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats did draw within six points when they faked a field goal on their next drive and holder Chris Lofton passed to kicker Chancellor for their last points of the contest — a 27-yard score. The two-point conversion try was picked off and returned 100 yards by former Northeast Lauderdale standout T.J. Ballou.
EMCC added a field goal in the closing minutes to seal the win.
Sports
One step away
Defense leads EMCC past Jones County
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Roundup — MCC baseball splits pair at tourney
The Meridian Community College Eagles salvaged a split of its final games in the 2012 T.J. Fleming Invitational at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College on Sunday. -
Crusaders use experience, speed to topple Tornadoes
Philadelphia and Sacred Heart both entered Friday's Class 1A/2A/3A soccer state championship game looking for their first state crown.
The Crusaders, though, had finished as runners-up the previous two seasons, and used that experience and their speed to their advantage as they scored three first half goals in route to a 3-1 win. -
Roundup — West girls rally past Louisville
The West Lauderdale girls basketball team overcame an early deficit to top visiting Louisville 60-56 to close out the regular season Friday.
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Dreams Dashed
A real life David vs. Goliath meeting took place in the Class 1A/2A/3A girls state championship soccer game Friday afternoon at Clinton High School's Arrow Field.
Having never advanced farther than the second round of the MSHSAA soccer playoffs, Clarkdale entered looking to shock the state and win its first state title. In th way stood Our Lady Academy, a nine-time state champion from Bay St. Louis.
The Crescents blanked the Bulldogs 5-0 for their third straight title and 10th since 2000. -
CC girls hold off Southeast, garner top 5-3A seed
Basketball is a game of runs and it was on full display Friday night as Choctaw Central staved off multiple Southeast Lauderdale rallies to knock off its rival 63-49 in Vimville. Southeast rallied back from double-digit deficits three times in what could be a preview of the Division 5-3A championship game.
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Roundup — RCA tops Clarkdale on milestone night
The Russell Christian Academy boys basketball team had a night of milestones Thursday at Clarkdale, topping the Bulldogs 62-47.
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Philadelphia boys excited about opportunity against power Sacred Heart
For the first time in school history, the Philadelphia boys soccer team is playing for a state championship.
And the excitement level over that can be seen by looking at Tornadoes coach Adam Huddleston’s call log. -
Eyeing more history
There is no magic formula that has led to the Clarkdale girls soccer team’s unprecedented run through the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A North State playoffs.
Rather, the Bulldogs have used the bonding and communication that has been developed through years of playing together to reach today’s state championship game against two-time defending champion Our Lady Academy at Clinton High School at 4 p.m. -
EMCC men rally to 11th straight win
Outscoring the visitors 48-26 in the second half, the Lions of East Mississippi Community College extended their winning streak to 11 consecutive games with an 81-63 victory against Holmes on Thursday night in MACJC North Division basketball action at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum.
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Moving On
Meridian High School coach Larry Weems said one of the many pleasures of working with young men through the Wildcat football program is seeing them grow and then have the opportunity to continue on with their education and career on the gridiron.
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