SCOOBA — When the first renderings of the new Sullivan-Windham Field were drawn up, East Mississippi Community College football coach Buddy Stephens dreamed of playing championship games before capacity crowds in a state-of-the-art complex.
The second-ranked Lions will get another chance to do just that this weekend.
In its third year of producing football thrills at the new stadium, No. 2 EMCC (10-0) will be back on its home turf at 2 p.m. Saturday against No. 4 Jones Junior College (9-1) for the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges state championship. The winner will earn an automatic invite to the Mississippi Bowl on Dec. 8 in Biloxi.
“We feel like our stadium is a special place,” EMCC sophomore running back Lakenderic Thomas said. “When other players see it for the first time, their eyes get a little wider. We take pride in what we have going on. We like to do work here. We like to win here.”
EMCC is 16-1 in its new digs. The lone loss came last season when Copiah-Lincoln C.C. ripped off a kickoff return for a touchdown in the closing seconds to steal a 47-46 victory in the MACJC playoffs.
The Lions have defeated five ranked opponents at home. The average margin of victory in those victories is 41 points. Only two have been decided by a touchdown or less.
“There is nothing like playing at home in front of your family and friends,” EMCC freshman running back Preston Baker said. “When we play on the road, it is usually a long bus ride and it is hard for everybody to get to the games. When you play at home, it is different. You don’t have to worry about being up. Everybody is amped and ready to go. It is special and we want to put on a show.”
Boasting one of the best junior college video boards in the nation, EMCC has taken great strides to enhance the game-day experience. Whether it is parking, concessions, or the press box elevator, everything is first class and helps the average person realize football is a big deal at the school.
Success has followed on the field. The Lions will play in their third state championship game — the first two also were at home. In 2009, EMCC beat Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. 75-71 at the old Sullivan-Windham Field. Two years later, it christened the new stadium with a 42-17 victory against Mississippi Gulf Coast.
“You have a tremendous advantage playing at home,” Stephens said. “I don’t think people realize those kinds of things can have the same effect in junior college ball, as it does on the higher levels. Every team has numerous advantages when you are playing at home. I think we have a tremendous job of taking advantage of our advantages. We have been able to do those extra things which separate great teams from good teams.”
EMCC will attempt to do those things again Saturday. The Lions completed the second undefeated regular season in school history two weeks ago. The playoffs opened last Saturday with a 45-28 victory against Mississippi Gulf Coast at Sullivan-Windham Field.
By winning the MACJC North Division, EMCC was guaranteed home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Lions also rode that formula to two wins and the state championship in 2009 and 2011.
“The thing is the coaches have been here and they know how this is done,” EMCC freshman running back/quarterback Todd Mays said. “You trust them at this point in the season because you know they will do everything possible to see you have success.”
EMCC has executed almost flawlessly this season. In only two games has EMCC been tied during the course of play. Last week, Mississippi Gulf Coast led 14-7 at halftime, which was the first time the Lions trailed at halftime all season.
“We really faced real adversity for the first time all season,” said Thomas, who will begin play Saturday 71 yards shy of rushing for 1,000 yards. “They were in our head early, but I thought we did a great job of settling down and playing the game.
“You would really have to be a special team to be able to play with us for 60 minutes.”
Jones will try to prove worthy of that challenge. The Bobcats have won or shared 13 state championships, with the last coming in 2001. Ray Perkins has breathed new life into the program. A 28-year senior college and professional coaching veteran, the 71-year-old Perkins has won 15 of 19 games since taking over at Jones. This season, Jones’ loss was a 24-20 home loss to Hinds C.C.
While that setback may have hurt Jones’ chances to play for its first national championship since 1998, it didn’t impact its ability to play for a state championship.
“Any time you play for a championship, you have had a special season,” said Perkins, who called EMCC the best junior college team assembled in several years. “We are very happy to be in this position. All year we talked to the players about what it takes to be in this position. Once you make this game, you talk about finding a way to get out of it (with a win).”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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