SCOOBA — While Lindsey Scott Jr.’s opening act at East Mississippi Community College was a far cry from what the final act will look like, it was enough to leave the fans wanting more.
Scott threw for 418 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 2 EMCC to a 47-34 victory against Jones County Junior College on Thursday night in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) season opener for both teams at Sullivan-Windham Field.
“This morning, I woke up and felt like a kid on Christmas morning,” Scott said. “This is the greatest game ever, and I had fun playing it tonight.”
Scott threw for 6,660 yards and 67 touchdowns in a standout three-year career at Zachary High School in Zachary, Louisiana. Scott signed with LSU, where he redshirted last season. After not seeing any reps at quarterback in LSU’s second scrimmage this fall, he announced his intention to transfer and landed at EMCC.
“That was a nice night for two weeks of practice,” EMCC sophomore wide receiver Calvin Keys Jr. said. “Wait till this offense figures everything out.”
While there is still much to figure out, even after EMCC won its season opener for the eighth time in 10 tries under Buddy Stephens, there are a few certainties.
The Scott-to-Kirk Merritt connection will be special. Merritt came to Scooba in May after transferring from Texas A&M, which came on the heels of a stop at
Oregon. The duo found one another seven times for 180 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown.
That score came one possession after an offsides penalty nullified an 82-yard punt return for touchdown by Merritt.
While Merritt earned a game ball, Scott Jr. praised many of his teammates.
“There are so many good athletes here,” Scott said. “Kirk Merritt made me look good, but really they all did. There is Division I talent everywhere on this field. Just wait till we get some things going.”
The talent level is what caught Scott’s attention when he made his first trip to Scooba two weeks ago.
“I just wanted to go somewhere where I could win,” Scott said. “After talking to (Stephens), I realized he and the coaches here have that same mind-set. With the weapons here, when I saw them in person, I knew I had to join this team.”
De’Andre Johnson topped the 400-yard mark one time last season for EMCC. On Thursday, the Lions needed almost every yard. The teams battled to a 14-14 halftime tie before EMCC trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter.
“Proud of the fight more than anything,” Stephens said. “We had a lot of mistakes. We had a lot of areas where we didn’t play well. We will list the things to improve on Monday in practice. I just liked the fight. I liked the determination. We just kept plugging away and battling. There were a lot of new guys on the field tonight. I like the grit they showed.”
The EMCC offensive line struggled in the opening half. The Lions never got the running game fully engaged, either, as Tyrell Price (14 rushes, 64 yards, one touchdown) was the lone highlight.
Still, the Lions kept working. The game turned when Scott found confidence.
“The offense really grew up there in the second half,” EMCC sophomore wide receiver Mike Williams said. “You don’t want the game to end when you find that rhythm. We were close to really being on a roll.”
Scott was 24 of 43, but he threw two interceptions. The Lions closed business with a 33-6 run.
Much like the litany of Division I transfers who have come before him, Scott said the offense is simple.
“I made things harder tonight than they should have been,” Scott said. “My teammates bailed me out in a couple of tough spots. I think some of that may have been rust. Some of it may have been nerves, playing in a new environment. Yes, the offense is simple. Take the snap, do the reads, and find one of these great athletes playing receiver.
“I think we over-complicate some things sometimes. Tonight, we just went out there and had fun.”
The fun started shortly after Jones built a 28-14 lead with 11 minutes, 39 seconds left in the third quarter. The home crowd grew quiet because it looked like JCJC would become only the second team to beat a Stephens-coached squad in back-to-back seasons.
Instead, the defense found a spark at the same time Scott did.
The momentum changed for good after JCJC’s final score. Denzel Bonner broke through the line, blocked the extra point and ran it back 90 yards for two points. That brought the Lions within 34-23.
On the ensuing possession, Scott hit Merritt for the 80-yard touchdown. The Lions got another stop and Price put the home team on top for good with a 7-yard run.
“It kind of got crazy there at the end,” Price said. “We were scoring, scoring, scoring. It was like the old days were back.”
A 14-yard punt then set EMCC up on the JCJC 15-yard line. Merritt capped a four-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
By then the 34th victory in EMCC’s seven-year-old stadium was almost in the books. Week 2 opponent Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. quickly became the next order of business.
“Next week is a new week,” Scott said. “We are going to be even better. That’s a promise.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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