With 17 first-place votes in the latest NJCAA Top 20 poll, East Mississippi Community College begins its quest for its fifth NJCAA national championship as the consensus favorite.

East Mississippi (9-0, 6-0 MACJC) hosts Copiah-Lincoln Community College (6-3, 5-1 MACJC) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sullivan-Windham Field in both teams’ MACJC playoff opener.

The Lions, which have a 32-0 home record since 2013, earned a 26-7 win at Northeast Mississippi Community College last week to claim the 2018 MACJC North Division crown. East Mississippi coach Buddy Stephens said maintaining a high standard of excellence throughout every game this year is something his players have refined through their competitiveness. 

“For us, just trying to be the best football team we can be every week,” Stephens said of ending the regular season with a perfect record. “We don’t worry about who we play — other than try to scheme it up and do things to stop them on offense, or for us to score on offense and stop them on defense — for us to just be the best football team we can be. Blocking, tackling, executing what we do, and it’s a challenge. The way that you challenge them is for them to challenge themselves. You have to be the best football player you can be.”

At 431.6 yards per game, East Mississippi boasts the No. 1 offense in the MACJC. But the Lions haven’t only been efficient on offense. Through nine games this year, East Mississippi’s defense has allowed 203.1 yards per game, which also ranks No. 1 in the MACJC. The Lion offense is averaging 45.1 points per game, while the defensive unit has allowed just 11.6 points per game.

“We just try to challenge each other, and I think that’s been a good thing that’s helped us,” Stephens said. “We challenge each other, not only to keep them motivated themselves, but we challenge each other offensively and defensively every day. We like to think that we’re playing against a pretty dadgum good defense, and our defense plays against a pretty good offense every day.”

Lions running back Deon McIntosh, a sophomore, carries a nation-leading 15 rushing touchdowns into Saturday’s matchup. McIntosh has rushed for 864 yards on 143 carries through nine games. Receiver Dontario Drummond’s 602 yards and eight touchdowns are both team-highs, and quarterback Messiah deWeaver has thrown for 1,328 yards and nine touchdowns against three interceptions.

Defensively, linebacker Fred Hervey ranks sixth in the MACJC with 74 total tackles. Hervey has tallied four sacks to go with two forced fumbles. Defensive backs Keilos Swinney and JaQuez Akins have recorded three interceptions apiece. 

 East Mississippi’s pass defense will be tasked with slowing a Copiah-Lincoln passing attack that’s produced 20 touchdowns (10th in NJCAA). Quarterback Hayden Davis has thrown for an MACJC-best 16 touchdowns behind 1,309 yards passing. 

Kundarrius Taylor, a one-time Oklahoma commit at wide receiver, leads the Wolves with 481 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, while former Mississippi State commit Malik Heath has tallied 333 yards receiving and four touchdowns. 

The Wolves defense has held opponents to 17.9 points per game this season, and the offense is averaging 336 yards and 31.9 points per game.

“They’re probably the most talented team in the state,” Stephens said. “They’re a very talented bunch that plays relentlessly on defense, and offensively, they’re very explosive, and they’re very methodical about their offense. But at the same time, they’re very explosive with Malik Heath and Kundarrius Taylor. Those guys can play, and their running backs are so physical. Their defense is full of really good football players, highly recruited football players… It’s the stiffest, strongest challenge we’ve faced this year by far.”

Kickoff is at 2 p.m. Saturday at East Mississippi Community College.