1996

;East Central CC preps for Georgia bowl game Bowl offitials are ca lling it on 127 attempts and scored New York (17-14). seven touchdowns. Bradford

"The Battle of Wa rriors" when number -nine ranked East Cen– t r al Community Coll ege of Decatur, and Middle Georgia College , located m Cochra n , meet in the second annual Hud– d le House Golden Isles Bowl Cl assic on Saturday, Dec. 7 . Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (EST) at Glynn Co u n t y Stadium in Brunswick, Ga. Ironically, both teams are nicknamed "Warrior s," although school colors differ a t each col– lege. East Central uniforms are black alld old gold, while Middle Georgia will wear red, blflck and white. East Central, led by second– year head coach Willie Coat s, completed regular seasoJl action by compiling a 9-1 recor d, the team's best finish since 1939, when the Warriors went 10-0 and claimed the college's only state championship m the sport. ECCC posted wins over Holmes (13-7), Northeast (36-7), Nor thwest (20-15), Itawamba (20-17), Pearl River (22-15), Gulf Coast (28-23), J ones (45- 26), Copiah-Lincoln (20-14) and Southwe~t (41-6). before falling to eventual state champion Hind::: 't5-7) for the MACJC South Division title. In recognition of the War– riors' successful 96 campaign , Coats was named MCo-Coach of the Year," sharing honors with Ea"t .Mi;:;::.issippi's Tom Goode. Other members of Coats' ::.ta.ff include Terry Underwood, Timm) Coats, Frederick Lyons and Jon \\illiam.s. In addition to

Middle Georgia lists 99 play– was an honorable mention All- ers on its roster, with seven State selection. additional athletes classified as Anchoring the offensive line redshirts. i s center .:\larcus Holmes of During '96 action, the MGC Louis.,.ille, recipient of the most Warriors had 181 first downs, outstanding offensive lineman 3,184 yards rushing and 660 award. Holmes was also named passing yards. Leading t he first team All-State. offense is sophomore running Pun ter AI Hunt was also back Rod Sparks of Augusta, among the league's best, as he Ga. , who compiled 1,032 yards averaged 40.38 yards per kick, on 160 carries. He also scored with his longest effort traveling six touchdowns. 69 yards. Hunt, a freshman Several activities are sched– from Honea Path, S.C., was also uled for the two Warrior squads chosen t o the All-State first prior to the bowl game, includ– team. He shares quarterback ing a shrimp boil on the beach duties with sophomore Jake Thursday night; a champ 1 - Kizziah of 'fuscaloosa. onship-style breakfast, noon Defensively, East Central is barbeque and awards banquet led by s ophomor e linebacker on Friday;· pre-game meal, Kemba Bryant of Atlanta, who parade and post-game meal on recorded 89 solo tackles and 40 Saturday. assists. Bryant, a first team All- Selected to lead parade fe:;– State choice, was also named tivities is the ECCC "Wall o· the d ivision's most valuable Sound" Marching Band, direct– defensive player. ed by Thomas W. Carson and Freshman linebacker Dejuan assistant Johnny May. The East Clark of 'fuscaloosa also had an Central musicians have ahw outsta nding season as he regis- been chosep to perform the tered 77 t ackles, 27 assists and national anthem prior to kickoff. nine quarterback sacks. Clancy For more information contat:t was ch osen s econd team All- the Office of Public Information, State. telephone 635-2111, ext. 242 f Ahlso ha vifng a grefatt yeJar is.- Leading the offensive attnck 1 res ma n ree sa e y oey · fr h · P 'nk t f F t h 1 d th lS es man r unnmg back Mack 1 s on o ores , w o e e state in interceptions with eight Pittman who gained 1,139 yards returns for 111 yards , a 15.8 on 20 carries and scored 13 yard average. Pinkston, an hon- touchdowns. Pittman, a former orable mentton All-Sta te selec- standout at Bay High School in tion, also returned one intercep- Panama City, Fla. was named to tion for a score. the All-State second team. Middle Georgia is led by Also having a productive sea- head coach Denms Roland who son toting the pigskin is sopho· . . more fullback Steven Bradford reV1tal1;ed the football pr~am a product of Scott Central Hi~h m 199.,. after the coUe~e had School \'h ,., --~d - - for 35

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