SCOOBA — Under fourth-year head coach Sean Cannon, the Itawamba Community College football team has taken a boxing mentality into its annual matchup against rival East Mississippi C.C.
The Indians try to extend the game and win as many rounds as possible. The eventual goal is be last one standing when the fight ends.
ICC fought for as long as it could Thursday night before falling a 48-24 to No. 1 EMCC in a Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division matchup at Sullivan-Windham Field
EMCC won 51-0 in 2014. However, the last two games played here featured a similar plot and the same final score. Last season, EMCC won 44-42 in Fulton.
“You have to play the perfect game,” Cannon said. “We didn’t do that. I am proud of the effort, and I am proud of how we competed. You can take the positives from here and build.”
EMCC moved to 4-0 and 2-0 in division play. The Lions have started 4-0 five times under coach Buddy Stephens, but it hadn’t happened since 2014. EMCC has won 26-straight division games and 26-straight home games.
The Lions were playing their first game since taking over as the nation’s No. 1 team in Tuesday’s ranking.
All of those numbers bode well as EMCC aims to take the suspense out of the division race early again this season.
Local flavor
Schools have kept less of their local talent at home since the elimination of recruiting districts earlier this decade.
While the EMCC roster continues to have a strong Golden Triangle flavor, ICC has taken advantage of the change and stockpiled its roster with local talent.
Former Caledonia High School standout Jamel Thomas caught a 34-yard touchdown pass to give ICC a 7-0 lead. Thomas had six catches for 108 yards for his first 100-yard game as an Indian.
Former West Point High standout Kadarius Forside, a rare third-year player in the junior college ranks, entered the game as ICC’s leading rusher. However, he was held to 32 yards on 10 carries.
On defense, former Hamilton High standouts Quinshay Heard and Keshon Heard had big games. Quinshay had nine tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Keshon had three tackles and an interception and played a major role in special teams.
Caledonia’s Caleb Comer hit three extra points and a 22-yard field goal for the Indians.
Up next
EMCC will travel to Moorhead to face Mississippi Delta C.C. for a 6:30 p.m. game Thursday.
The teams will play on the Mississippi Delta C.C. campus for the first time since a fight ended a 2015 regular-season game late in the second quarter with EMCC leading 48-0.
EMCC won 73-7 last season in Scooba in a game without incident.
ICC (1-3, 1-1) will play host to Pearl River C.C. at 7 p.m. Thursday in Fulton in its final non-division game.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.