SCOOBA — Rewarded for directing the East Mississippi Lions to their best football season in modern school history, head coach Buddy Stephens and freshman quarterback Randall Mackey have been named 2008 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player, respectively.
In his first season at the EMCC helm following a 7-year stint as an assistant coach at Pearl River, Stephens guided the 8-2 Lions to their first 8-win season on the field since 1974 en route to participating in the MACJC football playoffs for the first time since 1984.
Having gone undefeated (6-0) in the North Division for the first time in the school’s football history, East Mississippi claimed the school’s first outright North Division football championship since the state of Mississippi officially went to divisional play beginning in 1970.
In addition, the Lions’ seven-game winning streak propelled Stephens’ squad to a No. 8 national ranking — the school's highest regular-season ending national ranking since finishing at No. 7 in 1963 — by the NJCAA heading into the MACJC playoffs.
A first-year signal-caller from Bastrop (La.) High School, Mackey leads the NJCAA in passing yards (281.8) and total offense yards (330.4) per game. He threw for 2,818 yards and 24 touchdowns on 193-of-320 (60%) passing for the year, along with rushing for 486 yards and four scores on 80 carries in 10 contests.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound All-American candidate threw for 300 or more yards three times in 2008, including a 441-yard outing on 36-of-58 passing during EMCC’s 27-23 comeback road victory over defending co-national champion and then-No. 2 ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sept. 18.
Mackey threw for a touchdown in all 10 games this season, including six outings with at least three scoring tosses.
Lion wide receiver Leon Berry, who was also selected to the All-Region 23 Team a year ago, had 39 catches for a team-leading 661 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.
Offensive guard Quartney Cox and free safety Jamar Hornsby were also named to the All-Region Team
In addition to the All-Region honors, Berry was also awarded with a spot on the MACJC All-State along with Mike Outlaw and Meridian's Montrez Mosley.
Mosley ranks 15th nationally with 43 receptions for 625 yards (14.5 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.
Defensively, along with Hornsby, Leslie Stirrups and Alvin Ellis earned first-team all-state honors for the Lions.
All total, East Mississippi’s eight first-team all-state selections (five offensive and three defensive) doubled the four first-teamers claimed by North Division foes Itawamba and Coahoma.
On the second team was one of Mosley's former Wildcat teammates. Isaiah Lewis — an offensive lineman — was one of four Lions on the squad. Pat Shed, Alex Hill and Claude Davis were the others.
Sports
EMCC's Stephens, Mackey win Region 23's top honors
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Clarkdale serves notice in rout of Enterprise
The Clarkdale girls’ basketball team served notice that it belonged among the top teams in MHSAA Class 2A with a 59-56 division win at defending 2A state champion Scott Central on January 31.
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Northeast Lauderdale stuns, upsets Northeast Jones in opening round.
Shaquanta McDonald and Tarmecia Mack each scored 10 points as The Trojans beat the Tigers 42-28 in the opening round of the District 5-4A District Tournament held at West Lauderdale Tuesday. Brittany Williams added nine points for Northeast Lauderdale (5-21).
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Season Ender
The defense was there, but the offense never came around and Meridian High saw its playoff hopes disappear as Oak Grove pulled away in the final minutes to knock off the host Wildcats 58-48 on Tuesday night in the Region 5-6A Tournament.
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Kemper County wins thriller over Heidelberg
In a division with traditional powerhouses Choctaw Central, Southeast Lauderdale and Newton – the fourth-and-fifth-seeded Kemper County and Heidelberg girls both were hoping to just punch their ticket to the Class 3A state playoffs and hope to hit a hot streak.
Part one of that equation was successful for Kemper County Tuesday night, but it was far from easy. -
New-look Lions set to open 2012 softball season
Coming off the most successful season of fast-pitch softball competition in the program’s history, the East Mississippi Community College Lions are set to open their 2012 softball campaign by playing host to Marion Military Institute Tuesday afternoon on the Scooba campus. First pitch for the season-opening doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
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Yellowjackets survive Hornets, keep season alive
Rarely does a team commit 46 turnovers and not get run out of the gym, but the Union girls overcame their ballhandling woes to knock off Lake 41-38 in overtime of the MHSAA Division 6-2A Tournament Monday night.
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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. - More Sports Headlines
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