SUMMIT — Quez Johnson is back.
After close to two years rehabilitating an injured shoulder, the East Mississippi Community College freshman quarterback unveiled his entire arsenal Thursday night.
Outmanned Southwest Mississippi Community College was left in the rubble.
Johnson fired five touchdown passes to help top-ranked Lions rack up a school-record 742 yards of total offense in a 59-6 romp against the Bears at John I. Hurst Stadium.
“Tonight, we showed what this offense can do at its full potential,” EMCC sophomore wide receiver Martay Mattox said. “The good news is that it is going to get even better from here.”
That being good news totally depends on which sidelines you are on.
EMCC (3-0) scored on 6 of 8 first-half possessions and had little trouble extending its two-season winning streak to 15. The Lions threw for 444 yards, rushed for 298, and had 29 first downs.
“We have so many little things to work on,” EMCC fifth-year coach Buddy Stephens said. “If we don’t get better at the little things, then any team on our schedule is capable of beating us. But I guess that is the coach speaking. If you talk to some fans or players, they will tell you we had a pretty good night.”
Johnson inherited the reigns of the high-octane offense in spring practice. The goal for the Lions is consistent scoring drives hovering in the two-minute range. Johnson has been working on his arm strength and timing with fellow receivers.
On Thursday night, Johnson and freshman Dontreal Pruitt delivered.
“I think we are getting there,” Johnson said. “This is the first night where I felt comfortable and really felt like I could turn the ball loose. When the offensive line blocks like this, I know I can find somebody. We have play-makers all over the field.”
Johnson was 21 of 28 for 382 yards with one interception. He has thrown for 864 yards and 10 touchdowns in three games. Pruitt was 6 of 7 for 62 yards and two touchdowns in relief. Pruitt has three touchdowns in the second half in each of the past two wins.
“We have a young line and it is going to get better,” EMCC freshman running back Lakenderic Thomas said. “When we come together and everybody plays their position, we are going to be really good when it is all said and done. Quez is a good leader. He tells us what we need to do every day in practice.
“It is hard to believe we have come this far in three games. It is just great playing with these guys. Our leaders have really stepped up.”
Perhaps the story of the victory was the emergence of Mattox. The University of South Carolina transfer had six receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Mattox had entered the game with six receptions and no scores in the first two games. His breakaway speed left him unopposed on scoring catches of 49, 29, and 42 yards.
“These are the kind of games I dreamed about when came here to play,” said Mattox, an Athens, Ga., native. “The offensive line, the quarterback, the running backs, the receivers, we have great players all over the field. This is what I thought we had a chance to do this year. But this is just the beginning. I want many more games like this.”
Nine EMCC players caught passes. Corey Smith had a team-high nine receptions for 164 yards, including his third and fourth touchdowns of the season. Pruitt found Tray Tarleton and Thomas for their first career touchdowns.
“You can’t undervalue the number of freshmen who got some really great playing time tonight and made plays,” Stephens said. “Lakenderic Thomas, LeDarious Clark, the list goes on from there. Everybody really understands their role and accepts their role on this team. That is when we are at our best.”
Rodriguez Moore led the ground game, rushing 14 times for 74 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown rush to cap the game’s first possession. Thomas ran 12 times for a career-high 96 yards.
“People do not need to sleep on our backfield,” Mattox said. “I think a lot of people think we are pass-first, pass-last offense. Those guys can beat you, too.”
For a second straight week, EMCC’s defense carried a shutout into the final period. Southwest (0-2) game managed only 1 net rushing yard on 19 carries, and finished with 245 yards of total offense. It didn’t top the 100-yard mark until the final minute of the third quarter.
“The defense has been steady for us all season,” Johnson said. “The goal has been to get the offense to pick up the pace. We really wanted to be a complete team before division play began.”
North Division play begins next week when EMCC plays host to Mississippi Delta C.C. (0-3, 0-1 division) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sullivan-Windham Field in Scooba.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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