SCOOBA — DJ Law didn’t run track at Haines City (Fla.) High School.
Instead, Law said he liked to hurdle basketball opponents on the way to the goal.
However, if he had to do it over again, maybe track and field was his true calling.
Law’s breakaway speed and hurdling excellence were on full display Thursday, as he had three kickoff returns of 45 yards or more in top-ranked East Mississippi Community College’s 46-10 victory against third-ranked Copiah-Lincoln C.C. in the Lions’ home opener at Sullivan-Windham Field.
“Since this is my second game here, I am still learning everything,” Law said. “To be able to come in and help my team in the kicking game is really great. I really didn’t think I would be having an impact like this right away. My teammates really gave me some awesome blocks, and I just did what I could do.”
EMCC (2-0) won its 14th-straight game and left little doubt of its national ranking. The Lions have won all six games against teams in the top three in Buddy Stephens’ seven seasons as coach.
For a second-straight week, the separation came in the second quarter, when EMCC scored 17 points to build a 31-7 halftime lead. In its 52-14 season-opening win, EMCC also led Southwest Mississippi C.C. 31-7 at halftime after scoring 24 second-quarter points.
“We just had to get to used to (quarterback) Chad Kelly,” EMCC sophomore wide receiver Kameron Myers said. “He is a lot different than (last season’s quarterback) Dontreal Pruitt. But both are really great quarterbacks. (Kelly) has so many playmakers to choose from because we got so many guys who can get open. He is doing his best to learn this offense and to put each of us in a position to make plays.”
In his second start at EMCC, Kelly was 14 of 26 for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Myers was the big-play receiver with six catches for 138 yards.
However, the game turned in the special teams department.
Co-Lin (1-1) kicked off three times in the game. Law had kick returns of 45, 55, and 56 yards. EMCC also had a 12-yard higher punting average and recorded a safety when a bad snap on a fourth down punt attempt rolled 26 yards out of the back of the end zone. Each team hit a field goal.
“You can’t overstate how important field position is,” Stephens said. “We dominated in that area because of the special teams.”
EMCC sophomore running back Preston Baker, of Starkville, scored two first-half touchdowns to help build the big lead. However, the biggest surprise of the first two games may be the emergence of Baker’s understudy, the 5-foot-11 Law.
Law has been amazed at the proficiency of EMCC’s offense, which scored on its five of its first six possessions.
“We have a very good offensive line and a great quarterback,” Law said. “Everybody is bonding together. It’s a team thing around here. When one guy messes up, everybody messes up. The high school where I came from, we didn’t do up-tempo, so that has taken a while to get used to.
“But now that I have grown into it, I am a big fan of it. The coaches around here really know what they are doing when they put a plan together.”
Law has also become a big fan of EMCC’s defense. Once again, the Lions won the turnover battle, as an interception by Deshadrick Truly and muffed punt fumble recovery by William Lloyd were the only takeaways by either team.
“The defense has a reputation to live up to around here,” said EMCC sophomore linebacker Justin Lucas, of Aberdeen. “They really set a high standard for us last year, and we are trying to live up to it. It’s still personal any time we give up a score.”
Lucas led a ferocious defensive attack that kept Co-Lin quarterback Daniel Fitzwater under pressure most of the night. The Lions had four sacks, seven hurries, and 12 tackles for loss. In 33 rush attempts, the Wolves finished with 1 net yard rushing.
“The defense was lights out,” Stephens said. “We had some blown assignments and stuff like that. However, you could tell they sensed it was a big game.”
For EMCC, the stage was big and the victory was sweet. Co-Lin won a state playoff game in Scooba to end EMCC’s season in 2012. It is the only home loss in EMCC’s four-year history at the new Sullivan-Windham Field.
“We came out here and had a great night,” Myers said. “This was a big win because (Co-Lin) was the last team to beat East Mississippi here, so we came out with a lot of intensity. We just had to finish the job this time. We have a lot of things to work on (15 penalties for 121 yards in losses, for example). But we got a lot of great players and lot of great backups, too. The credit goes to the coaches for bringing all of these players here.
“Beating the No. 3 team like this is great, but we will only get better from here.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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