SCOOBA — It wasn’t an artistic effort, but the No. 1 East Mississippi Community College’s victory against Mississippi Delta C.C. on Thursday night extended an impressive winning streak.
No. 1 EMCC’s victory 54-13 in a Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division game at Sullivan-Windham Field lifted the Lions to 4-0 and 2-0 in the division. The team’s 30th-straight victory at home improved its record to 40-1 since moving into the current stadium for the 2011 season.
“There is a lot of pride that goes into defending the home field,” EMCC sophomore wide receiver Dontario Drummond said. “Our fans are always here and real supportive. The adrenaline flows a little more when you come out of that locker room and run through that fog. The crowd is excited, and we just want to put on a show.”
EMCC’s lone loss in the stadium was a 47-46 decision to Copiah-Lincoln C.C. in the MACJC State playoffs in 2012. Co-Lin ran back a kickoff in the closing seconds for the first-round win.
Local flavor
As Mississippi Delta C.C. (0-4, 0-2) inches toward its first victory of the season, it’s a good bet some Golden Triangle area players will be involved.
Former Columbus High School standout Patrick Jackson is the leading rusher for Trojans. Against EMCC, the freshman ran 17 times for 60 yards, including a 32-yard run.
On defense, former Falcon and fellow freshman Isaiah Karriem is making an impact at linebacker. Karriem had a sack and strip of the ball from quarterback Vijay Miller. The play was huge because Mississippi Delta C.C. hit a 65-yard touchdown two plays later.
Former West Point High standout Ladarius Glover, a freshman linebacker, was credited with three tackles (one for loss), a sack and a fumble forced.
Around the state
Clark Mills threw two touchdown passes and ran for another Thursday night to lead the Itawamba C.C. football team to a 49-28 victory against Coahoma C.C.
Mills hit former Caledonia High standout Jamel Thomas with a 60-yard scoring pass in the second quarter. He scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter and hit Cedric Buford with a 75-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter.
Former Caledonia High standout Caleb Comer was 7-for-7 on extra points for ICC (2-2, 1-1 division).
De’Sean Dinkins had a 2-yard rushing touchdown and a 1-yard score.
Myron Norfleet threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score for Coahoma C.C. (0-4, 0-2).
Mario Asagunla was 10-for-19 for scores of 15 and 19 yards to Kevontaye Caston and 20 yards to Jaylen Zachery in No. 20 East Central C.C.’s 24-21 victory against Pearl River C.C.
ECCC (3-1, 2-0) built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. It tacked on a field goal in the second quarter and then held on in the second half.
James Smith III led PRCC (0-4, 0-2) with 103 yards on 26 carries.
PRCC slipped to 0-4 and 0-2.
Terry Bryant had 21 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Reggie Hayes had nine carries for 100 yards Thursday in No. 18 Holmes C.C.’s 28-13 victory against Northeast Mississippi C.C.
Luke Wilson led the Bulldogs (3-1, 1-0) with 10 tackles, while Jha’mauri Johnson had eight and Jatavis Whitley and Tyshauwn White had seven.
Don Ragsdale had 13 carries for 170 yards Thursday to lead Hinds C.C. to a 41-14 victory against Southwest Mississippi C.C.
Tylan Morton was 8-for-14 for 170 yards and two touchdowns for Hinds C.C. (2-2, 1-1).
Elsewhere in the MACJC, nationally ranked teams were 5-1. No. 5 Northwest Mississippi C.C. beat Copiah-Lincoln C.C. 23-14. The lone setback came in the only matchup between ranked teams as No. 13 Jones County Junior College beat No. 12 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. 16-13 in Ellisville.
Other notes
EMCC won its 11th-straight game in the series … The last eight have been by a combined score of 465-27 … EMCC has moved to 4-0 for a second-straight season and sixth time under Buddy Stephens (2011-14, 2017-18) … The Lions were credited with seven tackles for loss, which gives them a national best 30 through four games … LSU transfer Lashawn Paulino-Bell had three tackles for loss … EMCC sophomore running back Deon McIntosh is ninth nationally with eight rushing touchdowns … EMCC has scored 50 or more points in the first four games for the first time since 2014. The 2013 squad topped that mark in eight-straight games.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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