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.

SCOOBA, Miss. – Beginning a stretch of three consecutive road contests, the Lions of East Mississippi Community College (1-0) travel to Ellisville to take on the 11^th-ranked Jones County Junior College Bobcats (1-0) Saturday evening.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field.

            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 20^th-ranked Itawamba a week ago.  Rated seventh nationally in the NJCAA/JCFootball.com Preseason Top 25, the Bobcats are currently ranked 11^th 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.