SCOOBA — This one feels different.
No. 1 East Mississippi Community College (11-0) will take on No. 2 Garden City C.C. (Kansas) (10-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship at 7,950-seat Carnie Smith Stadium on the campus of NCAA Division II-member Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kansas.
It is the first year of a three-year arrangement for the national championship game to be played at a neutral site for the first time.
“If you are playing for the championship, it doesn’t matter whether the game is at,” EMCC freshman running back Keon Moore said. “You could play on Mars and everybody would be pumped. We have worked hard to get to this point.”
EMCC will try to win its fifth NJCAA national championship in eight seasons. A fifth title would keep EMCC third on the all-time list and one title away from tying Butler C.C. (Kansas) and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for the top spot.
“You never take an opportunity like this for granted,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. “When you play for the championship, it has been a special season. We faced a little more adversity than we have in some other championship seasons. It’s a testament to the leaders on this team. They have kept the course and we have kept working.”
EMCC was preseason No. 1 in the nation for a fifth time this season. The Lions have never gone wire to wire as the nation’s top-ranked team. The 2011 championship squad went from No. 16 to No. 1. In 2013, the team went from No. 8 to No. 1. A year ago, the team went from No. 2 to No. 1. In 2014, the team started first and finished first but slipped to second for two weeks.
This season, the Broncbusters went from preseason No. 10 to No. 2.
“We are facing off with a program that has become the standard in our sport,” said outgoing Garden City C.C. coach Jeff Sims, who is headed to Missouri Southern when the game ends. “It’s an honor to be part of this game for the first time at a new location. It will be great national exposure. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Garden City is looking for its second title in three seasons. In 2016, it beat Arizona Western College in the El Toro Bowl at Yuma, Arizona, to win its first national championship.
EMCC started its national title pedigree in the same location. In 2011, EMCC squad also beat Arizona Western College in the El Toro Bowl. From there, EMCC won the Mississippi Bowl in 2013, 2014, and 2017 for its other three titles.
The Lions’ first three championship squads finished 12-0. This year’s squad will try to do the same.
“Going back to back is a big deal,” EMCC sophomore defensive back JaQuez Akins said. “You don’t see it that often in sports. Once you win that first title, it’s human nature to want another. All of the hard work in the offseason, during the summer months, when it’s hot outside –this is what you are working for, this moment right here.”
The game will be a contrast of styles. Garden City C.C. averages 307.6 yards rushing per game. Charles West (1,382 yards, nine touchdowns) and Dedrick Mills (1,358 yards, 19 touchdowns) lead the way.
On defense, the teams rank No. 1 (EMCC at 11.4 points allowed) and No. 12 (Garden City at 17.4) nationally.
In addition to the television contract, the NJCAA has announced eTeamSponsor as the title sponsor for the game. The Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau has played host to the week’s events.
“It’s a major development for our sport,” Stephens said. “The kids deserve to be on national championship. It’s another great opportunity to grow our sport.”
Built in 1923, Smith Stadium has been recognized twice this decade as the top Division II venue in the nation.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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