MERIDIAN —
Buoyed by its strong fourth quarter Saturday, defending national champion East Mississippi Community College remains the best junior college team in the country.
The Lions, who were tabbed the No. 1 team in the NJCAA preseason rankings following their first national championship a year ago, still hold down the top ranking when the first rankings of the regular season were released Tuesday.
EMCC received seven of the nine first-place votes for 138 points, while Butler (Kan.) Community College had the other two first-place votes and 134 points. Arizona Western, which lost to EMCC in last season’s national championship game at the El Toro Bowl, is ranked third.
Joining the Lions, who overcame a sluggish offensive performance to defeat visiting Pearl River 35-15 at Sullivan-Windham Field, in the top 20 from the MACJC are Mississippi Gulf Coast at No. 4, Hinds at No. 5 and Northwest Mississippi at No. 12. Gulf Coast crushed Coahoma 64-14 on the road, leading 29-0 after the first quarter and 50-7 at halftime.
Hinds, which moved up a spot from the preseason rankings, led Mississippi Delta 17-13 at halftime before using a big fourth quarter to emerge with a 42-21 win at home.
Northwest, which was ranked No. 11 in the preseason, slipped a spot despite not playing after its season opener at Southwest Mississippi was canceled due to Tropical Storm Isaac.
The top-ranked Lions rallied from three first-half deficits to secure a 21-15 halftime lead against the Wildcats as the two teams traded scores before intermissions. The score remained there until the final three minutes when EMCC tacked on two scores. The Lions forced five turnovers, including an interception that Shaquille Fluker returned for a touchdown in the game’s final minutes.
Sports
Lions remain atop NJCAA rankings
- Sports
-
-
After rainouts, Phil Hardin Rookie season gets underway
Concessions are open, the chalk is smudged, fans are cheering. Youth baseball is back at Phil Hardin Park.
-
Tar Heels tame Tigers in CWS
Home runs are few and far between at the College World Series these days, which made Brian Holberton's first-inning shot all the more important for North Carolina.
-
EMCC, MCC honored for academics
East Mississippi Community College has earned the distinction of being the 2012-13 NJCAA Softball Academic Team of the Year for achieving a 3.59 cumulative grade point average to rank first nationally among the 369 colleges that compete in softball at the junior college level.
-
On short rest, Braves swept by Mets in doubleheader
After a long day at Turner Field, the future suddenly looks a lot brighter for the New York Mets.
-
Learning from the best
Professional soccer coaches from the United Kingdom where football is king were working hard Monday in the Mississippi humidity teaching youngsters the nuances of the game.
-
Movin’ on up: Bulldogs rally past Hoosiers, 5-4
Trey Porter drove in the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, and Mississippi State took control of its bracket in the College World Series with a 5-4 victory over Indiana on Monday night.
-
Rose not taking any time off
U.S. Open champion Justin Rose has no plans to take any time off after winning his first major championship.
-
Bruins blank Chicago in regulation, 2-0
Tuukka Rask shut out the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday night and got enough help from the Bruins' offense to do it without another exhausting overtime.
-
Rivalry Renewed
On paper, Meridian Futbol Club's 1-0 win over Premier Futbol Club of Meridian Saturday in the State Games of Mississippi U10 Youth Soccer Tournament held little significance. With only three teams entered in the U10 division, both teams were assured a spot in Sunday's medal round.
-
Running new roots
I started running during rehab after major knee surgery four years ago. I kept running because I had the knee surgery.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Obama: 'Lives Have Been Saved' by NSA Programs
Obama: Friction in Afghan Talks No Surprise
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
