SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver Lacoltan Bester threw a birthday party with 4,000 friends in attendance Saturday afternoon.
Bester also was the master of his ceremonies who made sure everyone will remember his 20th birthday for a lifetime. The Scooba native caught three touchdown passes to help No. 2 EMCC defeat No. 5 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. 42-17 in the MACJC state championship game at Sullivan-Windham Field.
“My senior year in high school (at Kemper County High School) we lost the state championship in basketball by one point,” Bester said. “I made a promise if I was ever in this position again the next championship was not going to get away. There was no way I was going to let my teammates down and have us lose this game.”
EMCC (11-0) matched a school record with its 11th victory. The Lions also secured the school’s second football state championship. Both titles have come in the past three seasons, and each came against long-time nemesis MGCCC.
However, Saturday’s triumph was much different than the 2009 title-clincher — a 75-71 shootout.
“We are always ready for every type of game that needs to be played,” EMCC freshman running back Rodriguez Moore said. “On offense, we feel like we can score on any play. Today, it took us a tad bit longer than usual to get things going. But once we were on, we were on. This was a great day for the Lions, and we are pumped about being state champions.”
The victory wrapped up a berth in the Mississippi Bowl, which is slated for Dec. 4 at Biloxi High School’s Indians Stadium. The win should help EMCC maintain its No. 2 ranking when the final regular season top 20 NJCAA poll comes out Tuesday. Finishing second would essentially assure a bowl matchup against No. 1 Arizona Western College.
“We have one more to go,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. “Right now, though, it is time to celebrate. The players, the coaches, the support staff, everyone has worked so hard from day one. I am proud of this team and love every one of them.”
The contest was in doubt much longer than most EMCC games. The Lions appeared a step slow, perhaps nervous, while sluggishly working their way through the first half. MGCCC had two 16-play drives in the opening half and led 10-7 at halftime.
“We were probably a little tight to start off with,” EMCC sophomore receiver Hamp Glover said. “I don’t know if it were nerves or what. I knew our defense was not going to let us down. They were going to keep competing and keep giving us a chance.
“Once the offense found its rhythm and momentum kicked in, it was over.”
MGCCC (9-2) dropped a 34-30 decision in Scooba in the regular-season opener. The Bulldogs learned from that setback and tweaked their game plan on offense, running the ball more and attempting to keep EMCC’s high-octane offense on the sidelines.
The plan worked to perfection in the first 30 minutes. MGCCC ran 47 plays, compared to 33 for EMCC in the first half. The Bulldogs then tacked on the first eight plays of the second half. Reginald Matthews’ 1-yard touchdown gave MGCCC a 17-7 lead.
The Lions punted on their next possession. MGCCC followed with its second missed field goal. The Bulldogs finished with three missed kicks.
Eventually, quarterback Bo Wallace and company made the Bulldogs pay for the empty trips.
“In the first half, Gulf Coast did what they wanted to,” Stephens said. “In the second half, we did what we wanted to do. Fortunately, our good half was much better than their good half.”
On EMCC’s final possession of the third quarter, Bester caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Wallace. That score capped a 69-yard, 13-play scoring drive.
After MGCCC’s next miss, EMCC moved 80 yards on 10 plays. Wallace completed six passes on the march, including a go-ahead 21-yard acrobatic catch by Bester in the back of the end zone.
“Best catch I have ever made,” Bester said. “End of discussion.”
After leading early 7-0, EMCC was back in the lead at 21-17 with 10 minutes, 10 seconds remaining.
The Lions then followed with the first of two takeaways. Former West Point High School standout Justin Cox recovered a fumble and the Lions were in business at midfield.
EMCC moved 43 yards on seven plays, as Moore caught a 4-yard touchdown from Wallace. It was Wallace’s 46th touchdown of the season.
The avalanche then fell on the Bulldogs.
Moore capped a 62-yard, eight-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown rush. One play later, former West Point High standout Jeremy Cannon ignited the celebration for good with a 49-yard interception return for touchdown.
After allowing 192 yards in the opening half, the Lions allowed 102 yards in the final half. The defense has two touchdowns this year — each by Cannon.
“We just had to keep making plays,” Cannon said. “It is not like we have been in a lot of tight games this year, but we wanted to come out here and play like champions. Whatever it took. On offense or on defense, it was going to get done.”
Wallace was 28 of 45 for 324 yards. The Arkansas State transfer also set a new NJCAA all-purpose record with 4,079 yards for the season and a new passing mark with 4,016 yards. Moore led the ground game with 21 rushes for 85 yards. The Lions had 440 yards, including 239 in the second half.
On a picture perfect afternoon, Stephens even got one more wish. All season, he had begged for his team’s first turnover-free game of the season. In the biggest win in school history, he got his wish.
“Today, I am a very happy man,” Stephens said.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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