SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College freshman running back Jacquez Horsley has never doubted his athletic ability.
He has doubted whether he could stay healthy enough to realize the depth of that talent.
Injuries put a major damper on each of Horsley’s final two seasons at Starkville High School. Those setbacks also might have played a role in his lack of major Division I offers, so signing with the state of Mississippi’s premier junior college program was in his words “a chance to re-start my career.”
The opening act of the new career was a smash hit.
From his role as the two-time defending national champions’ No. 3 back, Horsley ran for 118 yards and a touchdown to help No. 1 EMCC open the season with a 69-20 victory against Southwest Mississippi C.C. on Thursday night at Sullivan-Windham Field.
“I want to thank God to give me the blessing to continue to play and to play here in this program,” Horsley said. “All of the running backs here are tough. I knew the o-line was going to have my back, so I just waited for my number to get called. Then I just tried to make plays.”
EMCC had 726 yards of total offense — the third-highest total in Buddy Stephens’ eight years as coach. Sophomore D.J. Law led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown. Fellow freshman Isaiah Wright, who played at Florence High (Miss.), ran eight times for 42 yards and added a 99-yard kickoff return for touchdown.
“We have had some good ones, but I think these three are really dynamic,” Stephens said. “They can run and they are fast. They can score quickly. You see Isaiah can run back kicks. He can play receiver. We got to find him ways to make plays. He is (former EMCC player) Camion Patrick’s brother. He is tremendous. We love all our backs.
“Our set of backs I will put up against anybody in the state, including a lot of senior college combinations.”
Horsley got his first carry on EMCC’s first possession of the second half. He broke through three tackles for a 26-yard run.
“Eating was going through my mind,” Horsley said. “My teammates kept telling me to get there in eat. They knew I had this thing. They encouraged me. It felt great to make a big play on the first run. You want the coaches and fans to like you, so you just go out there and try to make plays.
“We have several really good backs on this team and a huge line, so what’s not to like?”
Last season, Law learned the ropes from former Starkville High standout Preston Baker, who has moved on to Tennessee-Martin. Law is returning the favor and mentoring two backups.
“At first, I was nervous and had some butterflies when the game started,” Wright said. “Once we started scoring, you got excited because you knew you were going to get a chance to have a lot of plays.
“D.J. has really been a big influence and a big motivator. Junior college ball can be hard. You have to adjust. He has been great at helping us adjust.”
While Baker received the bulk of the carries last season, Law made several highlight-reel plays in the kick return game. This season, it appears Wright will take on the role of dynamic threat from multiple directions.
“Each player can do some little things differently,” Stephens said. “It takes you back to 2013 when we had three backs (Lakenderic Thomas, Todd Mays, and Baker) who could single-handedly win a game for you. We are really blessed in this regard. Jacquez has such a great work ethic. He just has to stay healthy on a consistent basis. If he does that, the sky is the limit for his game.”
Horsley said EMCC will go back to practice Monday with a desire to get better. He said the team saw some deficiencies in the opener it will need to clean up before it plays No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln C.C. on Thursday night in Wesson.
“We have to grow more together as a team in the week ahead,” Horsley said. “There are a lot of new guys like myself. You really had to make sure you could play on this level. Getting out here and getting a win makes you feel better about yourself and what you are trying to do. Now, we got to put what we learned to good use and get ready for a really big game.”
The running backs also will grow more together in the week ahead. For Wright, he likes life in Scooba.
“I love being a Lion,” Wright said. “That is my zodiac I am a Leo. That tells you this was meant to be.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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