FULTON — East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver Mario Lanier didn’t look the least bit winded.
He was in the minority.
“I could play four more quarters,” said Lanier, a former standout at Aliceville High School. “That was fun. Let’s keep the lights on and keep going.”
No. 11 EMCC and No. 15 Itawamba Community College did so much on the Eaton Field playing surface Thursday night few could ask for any more. However, most wouldn’t have complained if the show did go on.
EMCC ran its Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division winning streak to 20 games after surviving a grueling 3-hour, 15-minute marathon to put away ICC 44-42 before a standing-room only crowd.
“You had to enjoy that game,” said EMCC sophomore running back Jacquez Horsley, a former Starkville High standout. “I think you might have enjoyed that game even if you lost. I am glad I don’t have to think about it, though, from that standpoint.”
The teams combined for 63 first downs and 1,377 yards on 185 plays.
The individual duel at the quarterback position did not disappoint, either.
For ICC, former Washington State quarterback Peyton Bender was 39 of 58 for 508 yards and three touchdowns. For EMCC, former Florida State quarterback De’Andre Johnson was 34 of 46 for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson also ran 23 times for 163 more yards.
After the game, EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said he was going to break one of his program’s traditions and award a game ball. He tossed it gently to Johnson, who quickly stood up and credited his offensive teammates for helping put on the show.
“That really meant a lot to me,” Johnson said. “It made me feel special. I was honored. We had 55 guys fighting their tails off though to get this win.”
Johnson was asked if he had played in a game with so many twists and turns.
“This game reminded me of my (high school) freshman year (in 2011 at First Coast Academy in Florida),” Johnson said. “We were playing White and it was this type of game. We just had to match them score for score. Finally, with six seconds left in the game, I threw a comeback route to my receiver Chris Black and we won the game (35-34).
“This game was a lot like that game. Every play mattered. It was great.”
There were no last-second dramatics this time. While neither team led by more than a touchdown, it appeared EMCC had the upper hand most of the night.
Johnson hit Calvin Keys for a 4-yard touchdown with 13 minutes, 51 seconds remaining to help EMCC break a 35-35 tie. Deon Knox blocked extra point to keep the score at 41-35.
EMCC (3-1, 2-0 MACJC North) then had back-to-back defensive stops for the second time. A 17-yard sack forced a missed 26-yard field goal try. One possession later, EMCC got the turnover on downs with ICC on the EMCC 11-yard line.
“We knew the defense would eventually come through,” Lanier said. “They usually play lights out for four quarters. Tonight, that didn’t happen, so we just had to go out and do our part (on offense). There have been so many nights where the defense had our backs, and it was fun to help them out for once.”
After the two stops, EMCC drove 79 yards and took the clock inside the final minute before Taylor Crabtree kicked a 27-yard field goal.
ICC (2-2, 0-2) came right back with a six-play, 75-yard drive and the final touchdown. EMCC then recovered the onside kick to run out its fourth-straight victory in this rivalry.
“We don’t play games like that, so it was a different in a lot of ways,” Horsley said. “The defense always has our backs, so on this night, we had a little something for them. It was fun being on the field and watching the offense do what it did. We have days like this in practice. We had been waiting to do something special in a game.”
EMCC finished with 753 yards. Johnson and Vijay Miller combined to hit eight receivers. Damion Willis had nine catches for 145 yards, while Lanier had 10 catches for 126 yards. Lanier, Starkville’s Raphael Leonard, and Keys caught touchdown passes one week after EMCC didn’t throw a passing touchdown for the first time in 90 games under Stephens.
EMCC also churned out 346 yards, an average of 6.7 yards per rush. Johnson was the only one to top 100 yards. Seven backs had carries, while Horsley scored twice and Miller scored once.
Stephens said he was proud of how hard his team fought for four quarters. He also pointed out the game was more competitive than it should have been because his team made some mistakes.
The Lions had the game’s only two turnovers, committed 12 penalties, and had a timing issue when Johnson ran out of bounds at the ICC 8 with two seconds left in the half. The officials didn’t award the out of bounds in time and the half expired, ruining a chance to expand a 21-14 lead.
“We just have a lot of things to clean up,” Stephens said. “If you really want to be a championship-winning team, you can’t look the way we looked in some areas tonight. I was proud of how hard we fought and our resolve throughout the game. If we keep fighting this hard, we can clean the other things up.”
Lanier said playing with Johnson has been a blessing.
“He makes everything that much better,” Lanier said. “You can be minding your own business and all of a sudden the perfect ball is coming at the perfect location.”
Arguably the nation’s top junior college prospect, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Johnson looked a cut above the rest at times. His ability to run over some of ICC’s best defenders was impressive. The ability to stop during a full sprint and throw back over his body to an open receiver also was impressive.
“We have only been together three games,” Johnson said. “I don’t think people really realize what we are going to be able to do later on in the season.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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