ELLISVILLE, Miss. – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College began a tough September stretch of three consecutive road games by dropping a hard-fought 23-19 decision to seventh-ranked Jones County Junior College Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field. The visiting Lions, now 1-1 on the year, scored on their first two possessions with freshman Phillip Dimino of West Point connecting on field goals of 42 and 30 yards. Following a missed 35-yard field goal attempt by JCJC’s Jacob Chancellor, the Bobcats’ Derek Welch picked off a Randall Mackey aerial and returned it 24 yards to the 21-yard line. Three plays later, JCJC quarterback Early James hit Darius Dear for a 16-yard scoring strike. The homestanding Bobcats led, 7-6, following Chancellor’s PAT conversion at the 14:25 mark of the second quarter. EMCC countered by going 67 yards in 11 plays to reclaim the advantage, 13-7, on a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Starkville’s Pat Shed and Dimino’s PAT. With the visitors on top, 13-7, at the intermission, the momentum started to swing the Bobcats’ way when EMCC’s Leon Berry mishandled a JCJC punt early in the third quarter. Getting the ball at the 15-yard line after the fumbled punt, Jones County sophomore running back Daniel Borne cashed in on the miscue by scoring on a 5-yard run. The kick conversion by Chancellor put the home team on top, 14-13, to stay at the 10:07 mark. Following a three-and-out possession by East Mississippi, the Bobcats took nearly seven minutes off the clock with a 15-play, 85-yard scoring drive that was capped by Borne’s nifty 4-yard scoring scamper in which he was nearly stopped in the backfield before spinning away and going in for the score. Borne, a sophomore from Avondale, La., finished the evening with 119 yards rushing on 20 carries. Chancellor’s PAT attempt hit the left upright to give JCJC a 20-13 lead with a minute left in the third quarter. The Lions responded quickly as Mackey hit Starkville sophomore Mike Outlaw on consecutive passes of 23 and 38 yards – the latter coming with 14:52 remaining in the contest and making the score 20-19. However, with a chance to tie the contest, Dimino failed to connect on the point-after attempt. The Bobcats put some insurance on the board midway through the closing period when Chancellor sailed a 32-yard field goal through the uprights to give JCJC a 23-19 advantage with 7:59 on the clock. Following a brief three-play series by the visitors, Jones County, now 2-0 on the season, recorded a pair of first downs before having to punt and giving EMCC one last chance with less than 40 seconds left in the game. The Lions managed to quickly advance the ball 43 yards to Jones’ 41-yard line on a pair of Mackey passes, but the potential game-winning drive stalled with three ensuing incomplete aerials to seal the JCJC victory. Following a short week of game preparation, coach Buddy Stephens’ East Mississippi Lions turn right around to hit the road again by venturing to Goodman to meet Holmes Community College in their North Division opener Thursday (Sept. 11). Kickoff at Ras Branch Field is set for 7 p.m., and the contest can be heard on WFCA-FM (107.9) – the Voice of French Camp Academy – as well as via audio streaming on East Mississippi Community College’s athletics website - athletics.eastms.edu. | SCORE BY QUARTERS | | Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | | East Mississippi | 6 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 19 | | Jones County | 0 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 23 | | | | SCORING SUMMARY | | 1st Quarter | | EMCC -- Phillip Dimino 42 FG, 11:00 | | EMCC -- Phillip Dimino 30 FG, 6:30 | | | | 2nd Quarter | | JCJC -- Darius Dear 16 pass from Early James (Jacob Chancellor kick), 14:25 | | EMCC -- Pat Shed 2 run (Phillip Dimino kick), 11:04 | | | | 3rd Quarter | | JCJC -- Daniel Borne 5 run (Jacob Chancellor kick), 10:07 | | JCJC -- Daniel Borne 4 run (Jacob Chancellor kick failed), 1:09 | | | | 4th Quarter | | EMCC -- Mike Outlaw 38 pass from Randall Mackey (Phillip Dimino kick failed), 14:52 | | JCJC -- Jacob Chancellor 32 FG, 7:59 | |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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 Freshman Alex Shelton of West Point scored her third goal of the season Friday afternoon in EMCC's 2-1 home soccer setback to Hinds CC.
The EMCC women, now 1-3-0 on the season, held a 1-0 halftime lead over Hinds on freshman Alex Shelton’s third goal of the season. The West Point High School product ranks second on the club in scoring behind fellow rookie Nikeisha Noel of Trinidad. However, the Lady Eagles scored twice in the second half to come away with the road victory. The Lions, now 0-3-1 for the year, fell down by two early goals to Hinds en route to dropping their third straight decision following a season-opening scoreless tie to East Central. “Both teams continue to make progress, though we’re being hurt in crucial situations by having mental lapses during key moments in matches,” EMCC head coach Junior Noel noted. “It’s very difficult playing from behind against good teams, but our teams are playing very hard.” The East Mississippi soccer teams continue their current five-match homestand by playing host to Itawamba Community College Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 9). Match times are set for 2 p.m. for the women and 4 p.m. for the men at the EMCC Soccer Field. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 September 2008 )
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 Reigning All-Region 23 wide receiver Leon Berry racked up 190 all-purpose yards with three catches for 48 yards and four kickoff returns for 142 yards in EMCC’s 28-9 season-opening home win over Copiah-Lincoln. Saturday’s EMCC-JCJC contest will not be carried by WFCA-FM (107.9), though the game can be heard on WGDQ-FM (93.1) out of Hattiesburg and via broadcast on www.jcjc.edu. The 1-0 Lions ushered in the Buddy Stephens era of EMCC football with a 28-9 home triumph over Copiah-Lincoln on Aug. 28. The victory marked East Mississippi’s first win in a season opener since the 2001 campaign. Following a scoreless first half of play that produced just one first down, the Lions rallied for four second-half touchdowns a week ago to post their first series win over Co-Lin since 1993. Offensively for EMCC last week, freshman quarterback Randall Mackey accounted for 245 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut. The 2007 Parade All-American from Bastrop (La.) High School was 13-of-24 through the air for 207 yards, including scoring strikes of 60 and 22 yards, while also picking up 38 yards on the ground, including a 21-yard scoring run, in five carries. Five Lions were on the receiving end of Mackey aerials in the Co-Lin contest, highlighted by Mike Outlaw’s five receptions for 69 yards. Reigning All-Region 23 wide receiver Leon Berry and fellow sophomore Montrez Mosley both hauled in three passes for EMCC in the opener. On the ground, the Lions were led by freshman running back Pat Shed of Starkville with a game-high 90 rushing yards on 12 attempts, including a 55-yard touchdown run. On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore strong safety Alex Hill of West Point collected Region 23/MACJC Defensive Player of the Week honors to begin the season after picking off two Co-Lin passes, along with being credited with six total tackles and a two pass breakups. Five Lion defenders accounted for nine or more tackles in the opener, paced by freshman linebacker Donnelli Johnson’s game-high 14 tackles. Leslie Stirrups, Claude Davis, Jamar Hornsby and Kenneth Roby were all credited with nine total tackles apiece. Guided by head coach Eddie Pierce, Jones County is 1-0 on the young season after claiming a convincing 38-7 home win over 20th-ranked Itawamba a week ago. Rated seventh nationally in the NJCAA/JCFootball.com Preseason Top 25, the Bobcats are currently ranked 11th in the JC Grid-Wire/JCFootball.com Top 25. The Lions will be going for their second straight upset victory over a ranked opponent Saturday in Ellisville, as former EMCC coach Roger Carr’s 2007 squad capped last year’s 4-5 campaign with a 31-28 overtime road triumph over then-No. 12 Itawamba in Fulton. Following a short week of game preparation, East Mississippi will turn right around to hit the road again by venturing to Goodman to meet Holmes Community College Thursday (Sept. 11) for a 7 p.m. contest at Ras Branch Field. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 05 September 2008 )
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 Alex Hill
A product of West Point High School, Hill intercepted a pair of Co-Lin passes in the second half of EMCC’s season opener at Sullivan-Windham Field. His second pick of the game, coming with 3:50 left in the game, all but clinched the Lions’ first victory in a season-opening contest since 2001. In addition to his 50 yards of interception return yardage against the Wolves, Hill was credited with six total tackles, including one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups. Following four consecutive series losses to Copiah-Lincoln dating back to the 2000 campaign, last week’s 19-point triumph over the Wolves marked East Mississippi’s first gridiron win over Co-Lin since 1993. Also earning Region 23/MACJC individual honors during the opening week of the 2008 football season were Coahoma quarterback Marvin Pittman on offense and Pearl River’s Rashod Henry for special teams. Coach Buddy Stephens’ 1-0 EMCC Lions travel to Ellisville this weekend to take on the nationally ranked Bobcats of Jones County Junior College Saturday evening. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field. Saturday’s game at Jones County will mark the first of three consecutive road contests for East Mississippi. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 September 2008 )
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 Freshman quarterback Randall Mackey threw for a pair of touchdowns and run for another score to lead the EMCC Lions to a 28-9 season-opening home win over Copiah-Lincoln Thursday in Buddy Stephens’ coaching debut. The only scoring in the opening half of play came on a 7-yard touchdown run by Co-Lin’s Ronnie McNulty at the 7:53 mark of the first period. Tyler Fitzgerald failed to connect on the PAT to give the visiting Wolves a 6-0 halftime advantage. The Lions got their offense on track with help from 2008 Parade All-American quarterback Randall Mackey, who put the home team on the scoreboard for the first time with 12:08 remaining in the third quarter by hitting sophomore Wayne Bonner of Milledgeville, Ga., with a 60-yard scoring aerial. Co-Lin briefly reclaimed the lead with a 31-yard field goal by Fitzgerald at the 7:40 mark. A little more than a minute later, Mackey, a freshman signal-caller from Bastrop (La.) High School, found the end zone again by connecting with Meridian’s Montrez Mosley on a 22-yard scoring strike to put the Lions in front for good, 14-9. EMCC benefitted from the running game during the final period, as Starkville’s Pat Shed darted 55 yards for a score with 10:03 remaining. A successful Mackey-to-Mosley, two-point conversion gave the Lions a 22-9 cushion. Sophomore strong safety Alex Hill of West Point all but sealed EMCC’s first win in a season-opening contest since 2001 by picking off his second interception with 3:50 left on the game clock. Mackey capped his collegiate debut and gave the Lions their first triumph over Copiah-Lincoln since 1993 by scampering 21 yards to the end zone at the 2:10 mark. Defensively, the Lions had three interceptions on the evening, with Starkville’s Anthony Hines picking off an errant pass with time running out in the contest. East Mississippi (1-0) will be on the road for the next three games, beginning with the team’s Sept. 6 contest at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville.
| EMCC 28, COPIAH-LINCOLN 9 | | | | SCORE BY QUARTERS | | Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total | | Copiah-Lincoln | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | | East Mississippi | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 28 | | | | SCORING SUMMARY | | 1st Quarter | | Co-Lin -- Ronnie McNulty 7 run (Tyler Fitzgerald kick failed), 7:53 | | | | 3rd Quarter | | EMCC -- Wayne Bonner 60 pass from Randall Mackey (Phillip Dimino kick), 12:08 | | Co-Lin -- Tyler Fitzgerald 31 FG, 7:40 | | EMCC -- Montrez Mosley 22 pass from Randall Mackey (Phillip Dimino kick), 6:21 | | | | 4th Quarter | | EMCC -- Pat Shed 55 run (Mosley from Mackey 2-pt conv), 10:03 | | EMCC -- Randall Mackey 21 run (Phillip Dimino kick failed), 2:10 | | EMCC vs. COPIAH-LINCOLN | | AUG. 28, 2008 | | SULLIVAN-WINDHAM FIELD | | | | Game Stats | Co-Lin | EMCC | | First Downs | 19 | 8 | | Rushes-Yards | 34-148 | 20-131 | | Passing Yards | 203 | 207 | | Passes (C-A-I) | 21-41-3 | 13-25-0 | | Total Offense | 351 | 338 | | Fumbl | | |
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