SCOOBA — Todd Mays, Preston Baker, and Drew White shared a rare distinction.
Each of those East Mississippi Community College players single-handedly outscored the entire Coahoma Community College team Saturday afternoon. For Mays and Baker that could be expected since both see time as a rusher and pass receiver.
For White, it was a totally different matter. After all, he is the EMCC place kicker.
It was that kind of Homecoming afternoon. White drilled 12 extra-points as EMCC knocked off Coahoma 90-7. The Lions matched a national record for points scored by one team in a single game.
EMCC improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 North Division play. The Lions are now 6-0 in Homecoming affairs under coach Buddy Stephens.
“When the offense clicks, we can put up some numbers,” said Mays, a former prep standout from Olive Branch High School. “When we are in rhythm, fans see something special.
EMCC finished with 734 yards of total offense – second most in a game in school history. The 90 points by the Lions easily shattered the previous school record of 75 points in a 75-71 win over Gulf Coast Community College in the 2009 Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges state championship game.
EMCC has now gone for 700 or more yards five times under Stephens but for the first time this season. EMCC racked up 38 first downs and scored on 12 of 13 possessions, without committing a turnover.
Dontreal Pruitt completed 22-of-27 passes for 365 yards. For the season, the former Laurel High School standout has thrown 21 touchdowns against only two interceptions. The 21 touchdowns already ranks him sixth in the Stephens era.
The 90 points matched Hutchinson Community College for most points ever scored in a National Junior College Athletic Association contest. Hutchinson achieved that mark two seasons ago.
Defense streak over
EMCC saw its string of 17 straight quarters without allowing a point snapped when Coahoma’s Quintavous Peterson scored on a 2-yard run late in the third quarter. The Lions committed two automatic first down penalties during the 84-yard march for the Tigers.
EMCC did force two turnovers, giving them a plus-12 turnover advantage for the season. Byerson Cockrell returned one of the interceptions 57 yards for a touchdown. The Lions entered Saturday’s contest with three straight shutouts for the first time in school history.
Local connection
Former West Oktibbeha County High School standout Tiberias Lampkin is one of the premier backs for Coahoma. Against EMCC, Lampkin was held to 14 yards on four rush attempts.
Lampkin entered the contest with a team-best 206 yards through four games.
Checking the polls
EMCC is expected drop in the next NJCAA Top 20, which will be released Tuesday.
The Lions checked in third nationally this past week. However, the national ranks figure in strength of schedule each week starting in October. EMCC is yet to play a ranked opponent and its first five opponents are 5-20 overall.
However, the good news is that No. 2 Iowa Western College fell 48-38 to Georgia Military College. No. 4 Copiah-Lincoln Community College also fell 50-47 to No. 9 Jones Junior College.
Jones scored the game’s final 28 points to snatch the upset win in Wesson. The Bobcats are now in sole possession of the South Division lead at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in division play.
Homecoming guests
The 2013 class of the EMCC Sports Hall of Fame was honored pre-game Saturday. That group included Nolan Atkins (Sweet Water, AL); Allen Bruton (Tupelo); the late Steve Hull (Collinsville); Dick McSpadden (Royston, GA); Jim Murray (Montpelier); Fred Stoops (Hendersonville, TN); Robert Temkovits (Brooksville) and Dora (Strickland) Vaughan (New Hope).
EMCC also honored the school’s 2013 Alumnus of the Year recipient (James “Cubby” Harris of Starkville) and Distinguished Service Award winner (Chip Wells, originally of Columbus) this weekend in Scooba
Up next
EMCC returns to the road for a Thursday contest at Holmes Community College. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Goodman.
EMCC is now 29-3 in division play under Stephens. Despite a winless record, Holmes has the full attention of the EMCC coaching staff, especially with the game coming off a short week.
“They have played us closer than anyone in the state the last three seasons,” Stephens said. “We told the players the easy ones are over. We have to be ready to play great the next four weeks to get where we want to go.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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