 Headlined by sophomore defensive back Justin Cox (left), the EMCC Lions have placed four players on the 2012 NJCAA Football All-America Team. Along with Cox, EMCC is represented by defensive end Za’Darius Smith (top right), quarterback Quez Johnson (bottom left) and defensive back Shaquille Fluker (bottom right).
Headlined by sophomore free safety Justin Cox receiving first-team defensive honors, defensive end Za’Darius Smith earned second-team laurels while strong safety Shaquille Fluker was an honorable mention selection. Offensively, second-year freshman quarterback Quez Johnson also garnered honorable mention recognition.
Cox, a former standout at West Point High School, tied for eighth among the NJCAA statistical leaders with a team-high six interceptions and was credited with a club-most 10 pass breakups this past season for the EMCC Lions. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound defensive back also tied for second among the team leaders with 52 total tackles on the year. The Mississippi State University commit completed his two-year EMCC career with 11 pass interceptions, 119 total tackles and 19 pass breakups. Cox was previously tabbed the 2012 MACJC North Division Defensive Back Most Valuable Player and an NJCAA All-Region 23 honoree.
Smith, out of Greenville High School in Alabama, ranked as the Lions’ leading tackler among defensive linemen this past season with 47 total stops, including 30 solo tackles and a team-best 6.5 sacks. The 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end was also credited with four forced fumbles, two pass breakups and an interception on the year. Ranked by JCGridiron.com as the nation’s top-rated junior college strong-side defensive end, Smith finished his two-year stint in Scooba with 66 total tackles, including 45 solo stops, 11 sacks and seven other tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Fluker, from Meridian High School, was also a vital member of East Mississippi’s defensive unit that helped lead head coach Buddy Stephens’ Lions to a two-year composite record of 20-2, including the school’s first-ever NJCAA National Championship and second MACJC State Championship in a three-year span during the 2011 campaign. This past season, the University of Georgia commit tied for 14th nationally with five interceptions along with being credited with 34 total tackles and four pass breakups. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive back totaled 106 tackles, seven interceptions and 12 pass breakups in his two years with the Lions.
Perhaps EMCC’s most decorated player this past football season, Johnson’s honorable mention status extends the Lions’ streak of having All-America quarterbacks to five consecutive years. In addition, Johnson’s 2012 selection gives EMCC the distinction of touting the NJCAA Region 23 Offensive Back MVP four times in the past five seasons. Previously, former Lion signal-callers and current Ole Miss starters Bo Wallace (2011) and Randall Mackey (2008 & 2009) collected regional offensive honors while starring for EMCC. This season also marked the fifth straight year that East Mississippi boasted the MACJC North Division Offensive Back MVP, which includes 2010 honoree and two-year Northwestern State (La.) University starting quarterback Brad Henderson.
Johnson, a former product of Starkville High School, ranked among the top five nationally with an average of 284.6 passing yards per game and 27 touchdown passes. A two-time NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week recipient, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Johnson completed 59.3 percent (227-of-383) of his passes for 2,846 yards on the year. The Florida Atlantic University commit also ranked as the Lions’ second-leading rusher this season with 540 yards on the ground and a team-most 12 rushing touchdowns.
Under Stephens’ five-year guidance, the East Mississippi Lions have now claimed 13 NJCAA All-America football selections spanning back to the 2008 season. A year ago during EMCC’s NJCAA National Championship season, Wallace capped his record-setting campaign for the Lions by being named the 2011 NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, former Lion defensive stalwart and current Mississippi State defensive end Denico Autry was also chosen to the 2011 NJCAA Football All-America First Team.
Among this year’s 75 NJCAA Football All-Americans, only 2012 NJCAA National Champion Iowa Western Community College and third-ranked Snow College featured more All-America selections this season than East Mississippi Community College. The 75 student-athletes awarded NJCAA All-America football honors this season were nominated by their respective conferences and then selected by the NJCAA football committee.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 December 2012 )
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DECATUR – Sophomore Jarekious Bradley, the NJCAA’s leading scorer, matched his season’s average of 28 points to help lead the Lions of East Mississippi Community College to an 82-72 road victory over East Central Community College Thursday evening at the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building. In the women’s contest, the Lady Warriors prevailed 49-41 over the visiting EMCC women.
Head coach Mark White’s EMCC Lions grabbed the early advantage over the winless Warriors. A 13-2 run by the visitors increased a narrow 20-17 lead to 14 points (33-19) late in the opening half. The Lions stretched the margin to 18 points (43-25) before resting on a 43-28 halftime cushion.
East Mississippi maintained its double-digit lead for the early portion of the second half until nine unanswered points by the Warriors trimmed a 16-point deficit to seven points (67-60) with less than six minutes remaining. East Central shaved the margin to six points on a couple of occasions late in the contest, but Bradley tallied eight of his 17 second-half points down the stretch to nail down the victory.
With the 10-point triumph, the EMCC Lions improved to 5-1 overall on the season and claimed their 10th consecutive series win over East Central dating back to the 2008-09 campaign. The Lions will now look to avenge their lone loss of the current season by traveling to Baton Rouge Community College for a Monday night (Dec. 10) rematch with the Bears. BRCC previously earned a 79-76 overtime road win over EMCC back on Nov. 12 in Scooba.
Sophomore Micah Walker (Jonesboro, Ark.) along with freshmen Jacolby Mobley, of Starkville, and Mack Foster, a West Bolivar High School product, each added a dozen points apiece for the winners.
Falling to 0-10 on the year, East Central’s Hakeem Wesley topped all scorers with 30 points. The sophomore from Newton County was the lone Warrior player to reach twin digits in the scoring column.
In the women’s game, seven lead changes marked a sluggish opening half of play by both teams. The visiting Lady Lions held an 18-17 halftime edge and went ahead by four points early in the second half. The Lady Warriors responded by putting together a pair of 10-0 runs later in the half to establish control of the contest.
Three straight baskets by EMCC freshman Nockeyia Qualls enabled the visitors to rally from a 43-31 deficit. Two free throws by fellow frosh Takera Mitchell, of Wayne County, capped an 8-0 spurt by the Lady Lions that sliced the margin to just four points (43-39) with 2:26 left in regulation.
That’s when East Central sophomore guard Jaianah Matthew took charge and finished off her 21-point effort by hitting a clutch 3-pointer and converting 3-of-4 free throws over the final two minutes to secure the Lady Warriors’ eight-point home triumph.
Matching her season high of 10 points, Qualls, a Forest High School product, was the lone Lady Lion player in double figures. Mitchell, EMCC’s leading scorer on the season, was limited to a season-low four points on the night.
The Lady Warriors, now 4-6 on the season, also received 10 points from Tyneisa Mickens.
Falling to 1-9 on the season with their eighth straight defeat, head coach Sharon Thompson’s EMCC Lady Lions take a month-long hiatus from hardwood competition for the Christmas holidays before returning to action on Jan. 8 by welcoming the same East Central squad to the Scooba campus.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 07 December 2012 )
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GOODMAN – The three-time reigning MACJC North Division Champion Lions of East Mississippi Community College successfully tipped off their division basketball slate with a key 64-58 road triumph over Holmes Community College Thursday evening at Frank Branch Coliseum. In women’s action, the home-standing Lady Bulldogs held off EMCC’s Lady Lions for a narrow 51-48 victory.
After trailing the better portion of the opening half and down 31-28 at the break, the Lions clamped down defensively to begin the second stanza on a 14-0 run. EMCC mounted a 45-32 advantage before the Bulldogs managed their first made field goal of the half on a reverse lay-in by Demarcus Lewis coming at the 10:50 mark. Holmes’ first point of the second half didn’t come until Kenitric Gillum hit 1-of-2 free throws at the 11:33 mark.
From there, the visitors maintained control of the division opener en route to claiming their seventh straight series win over Holmes dating back to the 2009-10 season. Also three-time defending champions of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament as national tournament participants, head coach Mark White’s Lions are now 34-3 collectively in regular-season division play since 2009-10.
Entering the contest leading the NJCAA scoring ranks at 30.5 points per game, sophomore transfer Jarekious Bradley was held to a season-low scoring total but managed to still lead EMCC with 18 points against Holmes. The former Memphis East High School product by way of Midland College in Texas nailed a clutch, step-back 3-pointer to pad a precarious four-point lead to a 56-49 margin just under the 4:00 mark.
Former Brandon High School standout Trey Brown and fellow sophomore Micah Walker, of Jonesboro, Ark., followed with 10 points apiece for the winners, who improved to 4-1 on the season.
Falling to 5-4 overall, the Holmes Bulldogs were led by Lewis’ game-high 24 points. Gillum and DeAndre Scott were next with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
In the women’s division lid-lifter, the visiting Lady Lions managed to cut a 10-point, first-half deficit in half to trail 25-20 at the halftime break. After falling back by nine points (31-22) three minutes into the closing period, the EMCC women went on an 11-1 run to claim their first lead since early in the contest.
Seven lead changes later, Holmes’ DeNesha Dillard drilled a clutch 3-pointer with about three minutes left to put the Lady Bulldogs on top (43-41) for good. Powered by the inside play of freshman post player Savannah Kimmons, the EMCC women had their chances down the stretch.
With less than a minute remaining in the contest and trailing 47-44, EMCC easily broke Holmes’ press and Leah Isabelle nailed a wide-open perimeter jumper. However, the freshman’s foot was on the three-point line to keep it a one-point margin. During the final seconds after Kosciusko product Jessica Miles put the Lady Bulldogs on top 51-48 with a pair of crucial charity tosses, Isabelle then found herself involved in the game’s final play. This time, the Pass Christian native received a kick-out pass from a driving Takera Mitchell. Opting not to pull up for the potential game-tying trey attempt, Isabelle chose to drive to the basket and was whistled for travelling with the game clock running out.
In dropping their sixth straight decision, head coach Sharon Thompson’s EMCC Lady Lions fell to 1-7 on the campaign. Kimmons, from Horn Lake High School, tallied 11 of her team-high 15 points in the second half. Mitchell followed with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists but was hampered by 11 turnovers.
Improving to 4-5 on the year and snapping a four-game losing skid, the Lady Bulldogs were paced by Tamia Grady’s game-high 18 points. Miles added a dozen points and team-high nine rebounds for the winners.
The EMCC women stay on the road to battle unbeaten (8-0) Shelton State Community College Monday night (Dec. 3) in Tuscaloosa. The Lady Lions and Lions will then head to Decatur together to take on rival East Central Community College Thursday evening (Dec. 6).
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Last Updated ( Friday, 30 November 2012 )
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 The EMCC Lions are slated to be represented by sophomores Billy Shed (top left), Jarrod Atterberry (bottom left), Antonio Wells (top right) and Quinn McClendon (bottom right) at Saturday’s MACJC All-Star Football Classic to be played on the Northeast Mississippi Community College campus in Booneville.
Scheduled to represent head coach Buddy Stephens’ EMCC Lions in Saturday’s all-star contest are former Starkville High School teammates Billy Shed and Jarrod Atterberry along with Noxubee County High School product Antonio Wells and Quinn McClendon of Sumter, S.C.
Having moved from running back to wide receiver as a sophomore, Shed ranked fourth on this year’s 8-2 EMCC squad with 39 receptions for 477 yards and five touchdowns. Atterberry was a two-year starter on the Lions’ offensive line at left guard.
Defensively for East Mississippi, McClendon bounced back from a season-ending knee injury as a freshman to register 37 total tackles (19 solos and 18 assists), including a pair of sacks, this season while splitting time at the linebacker and defensive end positions. From the nose guard position, Wells was credited with 25 total tackles (16 solos and 9 assists), including 5.5 sacks, on the year.
Together the four EMCC all-star representatives helped lead the EMCC Lions to a two-year composite record of 20-2, which included last year’s school-first NJCAA national championship and second MACJC State/NJCAA Region 23 football title in three years.
Determined based on a yearly rotating basis, this year’s MACJC North Division All-Stars will be coached by Freeman Horton and his staff of assistants from Coahoma Community College. The South All-Stars will be guided by Hinds Community College head coach Gene Murphy and his staff.
Each all-star roster will be comprised of 33 players with each institution guaranteed at least three participating student-athletes. The respective rosters are filled out with selections by the all-star coaches.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 November 2012 )
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 Former EMCC All-American Bo Wallace, currently a sophomore quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels, has received the C Spire Conerly Trophy as the state of Mississippi’s top college football player for the 2012 season. (Photos courtesy of Joshua McCoy, Elwin Williams and Stan Beall)
Wallace, who has helped lead head coach Hugh Freeze’s 6-6 Ole Miss Rebels to their first bowl berth since 2009, passed for 2,843 yards and 19 touchdowns while running for another 363 yards and eight scores during the regular season. In starting every game for Ole Miss this year, Wallace’s 3,206 yards of total offense make him only the second player in school history to eclipse 3,000 total yards in a season behind Eli Manning.
A year ago in Scooba, Wallace capped a record-setting season statistically for head coach Buddy Stephens’ NJCAA Champion East Mississippi Lions by being honored as the 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year. As a first-team NJCAA All-American last season, Wallace established new NJCAA single-season standards for most passing yards (4,604), most yards of total offense (4,810) and most touchdowns thrown (53). Along with completing 67 percent of his passes during his record-breaking campaign, Wallace also rushed for 206 yards and five touchdowns to help lead EMCC to a 12-0 record and school-first national football title.
Wallace, a product of Giles County High School in Pulaski, Tenn., redshirted the 2010 football season at Arkansas State University before transferring to play his freshman season at East Mississippi Community College.
Wallace was one of five finalists chosen for this year’s C Spire Conerly Trophy by a panel of 50 media members from around the state. Other finalists included Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks, Southern Miss defensive end Jamie Collins, Jackson State wide receiver Rico Richardson and Delta State offensive tackle Kendall Hunter.
This year marked the 17th presentation of the C Spire Conerly Trophy, which is annually given to Mississippi’s most outstanding college football players and honors College Football Hall of Famer Charlie Conerly.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 November 2012 )
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