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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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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