By Jamie Wachter / Sports Editor
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
If Buddy Stephens had his wish, East Mississippi Community College would have another month or so before opening the 2010 season.
Alas, Stephens and the Lions must play tonight on the road against perennial power Mississippi Gulf Coast at 7 p.m. at A.L. May Memorial Stadium in Perkinston.
"We're not where we need to be, we're not where we need to be at all," Stephens said. "We've got a long way to go. Our guys are so tired of hitting on each other and hearing, 'Stay up! Don't go to the ground!' They're tired of hearing all of that. It's time. It's time to find out where we are and if we're good, OK how can we get better. And if we're not good, how can we get better.
"It's time. I know the guys our ready. I wish we had another month, but if we had another month, the kids would end up beating me."
Who could blame Stephens for wanting more time to get ready for the Bulldogs. The last time these two teams met — last Nov. 7 — EMCC was busy outlasting and, most definitely, outscoring Gulf Coast 75-71 to capture its first MACJC state championship. After a full offseason, Stephens said the Lions have a plan to slowing down Gulf Coast this time around.
"If you don't let them have the ball, they can't score," he said, laughing. "We're hiding all the footballs. But yeah, we've figured it out, just don't let them cross the goal line and they can't get points."
If only it was that easy.
Gulf Coast, which is having to replace star running back and current Mississippi State Bulldog Vick Ballard, quarterback Greg Jenkins and wide receiver Kevin Bolden, averaged 42.08 points per game last year, including 43 in an earlier win at Scooba. The Bulldogs, which has won the MACJC South division three straight seasons, open the year ranked No. 5 in the nation.
"It's a team that usually plays well and that's not the kind of team you really want to open up with, but we open up with them and I'm just anxious to see how good we are," Stephens said.
Still, the tough task to open the year doesn't just fall on the No. 7 Lions, Stephens insists. He is pretty certain Gulf Coast the Bulldogs understand the task awaiting them, too.
"Everybody makes a big deal about it being Gulf Coast and yeah Gulf Coast is good every year and are ranked every year," he added. "But, and I mean this sincerely, sometimes I think we make too much of that kind of thing. I think it's just another ballgame, it just happens to be the first game. Yeah, it's a daunting task to go over there, but I hope it's a daunting task for them to have to play us, too."
Leading EMCC into the opener will be sophomore quarterback Brad Henderson, who is taking over the reins to the Lions' high-powered spread attack from All-American Randall Mackey, who is battling for the Ole Miss starting position. In spot duty last year, Henderson totaled 694 yards last year and had nine touchdowns for an offense that ranked fourth nationally but returns just two starters.
With that experience, Stephens said Henderson has the knowledge and ability to keep the Lions rolling.
"Brad looks good, he's a good football player," he said. "I'm extremely confident that Brad is going to lead us in a very good direction.
"He's looked great coming out and doing the things he needed to do. And we're excited about that."
The opener at Gulf Coast will also be the EMCC debut of Pat Patterson, the former Noxubee County star wide receiver that was dismissed at Ole Miss in July. Stephens said Patterson is on the Lions' roster and is expected to play.
So while the Lions don't have another month to prepare for Gulf Coast, EMCC does have some offensive weapons at their disposal. It's just time to see how that talent stacks up.
"I don't think we're anywhere close to being as good as we can be, but I am excited about this team's potential," Stephens said. "But I'm really hoping that we play to our ability. If we can do that, we'll be fine."
