The East Mississippi Community College football team moved into its new home two months ago.
Now the Lions want to spruce the place up with its first banner.
Third-ranked EMCC can secure North Division championship honors at 2 p.m. Saturday with a victory against winless Mississippi Delta Community College on Homecoming at Sullivan-Windham Field. WFCA-FM (107.9) will broadcast the game.
“We have approached this game with a very business-like approach,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. “You have to be ready to play each week, especially if you want to reach the type of goals we are setting.”
EMCC (7-0, 4-0 North Division) will wrap up its third division title in the past four seasons with a victory against Delta (0-7, 0-4) Saturday or at Holmes CC (2-5, 2-2) next Thursday night in the regular-season finale.
However, there may be no better time than the present to get the job done.
Mississippi Delta has scored 44 points this season. EMCC has topped that mark in four of its past five games.
“It is easy to stay focused when you know what you are playing for,” Stephens said. “The kids have done a great job of staying grounded all year. I think they realize our potential. If you don’t keep working hard, you won’t get any better. Our challenge every day is to get better.”
EMCC has secured one of the two playoff spots from the North Division. Itawamba C.C. is one win away from the other spot in the division, thanks to its 28-18 upset of No. 16 Northeast Mississippi C.C. on Thursday. Winning the North title carries more significance this season, since the North champion will play host the state championship game Nov. 12.
The state champion will be in the host role for the Mississippi Bowl, which Dec. 4 in Biloxi. The Lions will need to reach that destination to keep their national championship hopes alive. EMCC has never won a national title in football, but as long as it remains in the top three of the national rankings there is a chance.
“The first step toward anything is winning the North Division,” Stephens said. “We have to take care of that step first before we can look too far ahead. However, it is exciting to be at this point in the season and to know you are playing important games. What makes this even better for us is that we control our own destiny.”
In its last outing, EMCC completed a sweep of its non-division schedule with a 41-17 road win against Pearl River C.C. in Poplarville. The Lions trailed for the first time in four weeks in this contest. However, three consecutive touchdowns led to a 27-7 EMCC push at the intermission.
“You had to be concerned about a letdown after the Northeast game (a 63-35 win in Booneville),” Stephen said. “However, I thought our focus was good. We eventually got some things going and played well.”
After back-to-back seven-touchdown passing games, Bo Wallace only threw for four scores. He continues to lead the nation with 2,632 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.
EMCC leads the state in total offense (532.4 yards per game) and passing offense (385.3 yards). The Lions are seventh in rushing offense (147.1 yards). Mississippi Delta is last in total offense (164.85 yards), last in passing offense (68.57 yards), and next-to-last in rushing offense (96.28 yards).
EMCC is 11th in total defense (327.4 yards), ninth in passing defense (198.9 yards), and 10th in rushing defense (128.6 yards). Mississippi Delta is third in total defense (289.42 yards), fourth in passing defense (163 yards), and seventh in rushing defense (126.28 yards).
Mississippi Delta lost to Northwest Mississippi C.C. 37-0 in its last outing. The Trojans will play their next-to-last game under veteran coach Jay Miller, who announced his retirement before the season.
EMCC has won all three series meetings with Stephens as coach, including a 42-27 victory last season in Moorhead.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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