MERIDIAN —
East Mississippi Community College suffered just its fourth loss in the Buddy Stephens era Thursday night in its season opener, falling to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College 40-21 in a clash of top-10 ranked teams in Perkinston.
No. 5 Gulf Coast scored less than two minutes in as a double reverse from Bulldogs' quarterback Clayton Moore to Javon Bell went for 43 yards down to the Lions' 1-yard line. Two plays later Moore found the end zone on the keeper to put MGCC up 6-0. The PAT was no good.
Gulf Coast extended its lead late in the first quarter when running back Eric Dwills plunged in from 2 yards out to make it a 12-0 affair.
No. 7 EMCC would respond when quarterback Brad Henderson found former Meridian High standout Marcus McQuarley for a 36-yard touchdown pass. East Mississippi would add a 31-yard field goal to come within two at 12-10. Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Lions would come to the Bulldogs.
MGCC (1-0) closed out the first half on a 1-yard TD pass from Moore to Kennedy Helms to send Gulf Coast into halftime up 19-10.
The Bulldogs picked up where they left off in the third quarter as Dwills rushed for his second score of the game from 19 yards out to make the score 26-10.
The Lions (0-1) battled back and former Newton County standout Floyd Graves ran for a 15-yard score. EMCC would add a field goal with 3:13 left in the third for its last score of the game.
Moore then threw for his second TD of the night connecting with Bell from 7 yards and James Gillum added a 7-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth to make the final 40-21.
EMCC's Henderson was 29-53 through the air for 289 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown. Former Ole Miss wide out Pat Patterson led the receiving corps, hauling in seven catches for 71 yards.
East Mississippi hosts Hinds County Community College in its home opener next Thursday.
— Daniel Rigdon
Sports
Gulf Coast rolls past No. 7 EMCC
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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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