By Daniel Rigdon / sports writer
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.
