PRESS RELEASE: Aug. 27, 2008

            SCOOBA, Miss. – The Buddy Stephens era of East Mississippi Community College football kicks off Thursday evening, as the Lions play host to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in their 2008 season opener.  Game time is set for 7 p.m. at EMCC’s Sullivan-Windham Field.

            Thursday’s contest, as will at least five other EMCC football contests this season, can be heard on WFCA-FM (107.9) – the Voice of French Camp Academy – with Brett Bouchillon and Glen Barlow handling the play-by-play duties and color commentary, respectively.  The 100,000-watt station can be heard in 28 Mississippi counties.  Lion football broadcasts can also be heard via audio streaming on EMCC’s athletics website - www.athletics.eastms.edu.

            Stephens takes over the EMCC program after spending the past seven years as an assistant coach at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville.  Most recently as PRCC’s co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Stephens helped guide the Wildcats to a seven-year composite record of 60-12 (.833), including a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championship in 2004 and four consecutive Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) and four straight top five national finishes (2003-06).

            Bidding for their first winning season on the gridiron since 1998, the Lions are coming off a 4-5 campaign a year ago under former head coach Roger Carr.  With a 4-2 division mark and third-place finish in the North Division, EMCC capped the 2007 season with a 31-28 overtime road victory over nationally ranked and North Division champion Itawamba Community College.

            Headlining this year’s East Mississippi Community College club are six former NCAA Division I signees plus returning All-Region 23 wide receiver Leon Berry of Griffin, Ga.  Also on offense, the Lions will feature freshman quarterback Randall Mackey, a former Ole Miss signee who was a Parade All-American a year ago after leading Bastrop (La.) High School to a third consecutive Class 4A state championship.  On the defensive side of the ball, EMCC will showcase former University of Florida defensive back Jamar Hornsby, along with a pair of former University of Alabama signees – linebacker Devonta Bolton and defensive lineman Brandon Lewis – and two former University of South Florida signees – defensive linemen Leslie Stirrups and Claude Davis.

            Following their season opener at home, the Lions will be on the road for the next three games, beginning with their Sept. 6 contest at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville.