Former Lamar standout Davis Harrison helps Jones County past ECCC

Published 10:50 pm Thursday, October 25, 2018

DECATUR — Too little too late was the theme for East Central Community College.

After falling behind by 45 points, the Warriors rattled off 20 unanswered points in the second half. The East Central surge wasn’t enough, however, as No. 7 Jones College earned a 45-20 win Thursday night at Bailey Stadium.

The loss ended East Central’s season at 4-5 (3-3 in MACJC) overall, while Jones improved to 8-1 (7-0 in MACJC) behind its seventh consecutive win.

“We really didn’t show up tonight,” East Central coach Ken Karcher said. “It’s kind of sad that that’s the way we ended our season because we’re a better football team than that. Nothing against Jones, they’re a good team. I take my hat off to them.”

Jones linebacker and former Lamar School standout Davis Harrison finished the game with a 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown and an interception.

“We knew we had to come out, and we knew that they were a good team,” Harrison said. “We knew they were going to play hard. So we had to come out and really have our A game on and play well to win this one.”

For three quarters, Jones did.

The Bobcats led 38-0 at halftime, and during one point in the third period, a running clock was implemented.

Jones running back Kaylan Grandberry tallied 82 yards rushing and one touchdown on 16 carries, while backfield mate Deonte Edward ended the contest with 37 yards rushing and one touchdown on 10 carries.

East Central running back Marquavious Qualls had a game-high 94 yards and one touchdown on 18 attempts. Receiver Jaylen Zachery pulled in four catches for 90 yards and one touchdown, and quarterback Mario Asagunla was 6 of 18 for 127 passing yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Tre Young’s two interceptions paced the Warrior defense.

Edwards had a 1-yard touchdown run to put Jones ahead 7-0 following the PAT by Cristofer Thompson with 7:19 left in the opening period.

In the first quarter, Jones safety Jonathan Haynes intercepted an Asagunla pass and returned it to the East Central 42-yard line. Grandberry needed just two carries to tally 23 yards, and he capped a four-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:26 remaining in the opening quarter. Thompson’s PAT gave the Bobcats a 14-0 lead.

Early in the second period, East Central punter Steven Anderson’s kick was blocked deep in Warrior territory. Jones defensive back Lakevias Daniel picked up the loose football and returned it five yards for a touchdown to extend the Bobcats’ lead to 21-0 after Thompson’s PAT with 13:26 left before intermission.

Thompson added a 28-yard field goal to give Jones a 24-0 advantage with 5:56 remaining in the second quarter.

Harrison returned an East Central fumble 52 yards for a touchdown to give the Bobcats a defensive touchdown with 2:02 left in the second quarter. The PAT by Thompson put Jones ahead 31-0.

The Bobcats added their second special teams touchdown of the game when Nataurean Watts returned a blocked East Central punt for a touchdown with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter to extend the Bobcats lead to 38-0 after Thompson’s PAT.

It took Jones just one play to open its second-half scoring. Bobcat quarterback Stetson Bennett connected with Watts for a 73-yard touchdown with 11:16 left in the third quarter to move ahead 45-0 following Thompson’s PAT.

Qualls put East Central on the board with a 15-yard touchdown run with 3:16 left in the third quarter, but the Warriors missed the PAT and trailed 45-6.

Asagunla found receiver Zachery for a 27-yard touchdown, which he followed with a two-point conversion pass to Qualls, and the quarterback ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 8:56 left in the fourth quarter to cut Jones’ deficit to 45-20.

Harrison and Jones will welcome Northwest Mississippi Community College (8-1, 5-1 MACJC) to Ellisville on Nov. 2 for MACJC postseason play. Harrison said his and his teammates’ goal as they head into the playoffs is clear.

“We want to win a state championship, you know, but I think everybody’s goal is to win a national championship,” Harrison said. “If we win out, hopefully we’ll have a good shot at that.”