1996

WEEK OF --+-~1'-.wv;.._-__.9~..~,, "'-e ------

ECCC needs in to continue roll in dream season By Creg Stephenson The Meridian Star The East Central Warriors have already had an amazing season. ECCC is 8-0 and 4-0 in the South Division, after winning only five games total in the last three years. But there is still a long way to go. The Wan-iors are still tied for first place in the division (and the only playoff spot) with Hinds Community College, who they play next week. But that's- next week. This week, the Warriors host the Southwest Bears (3 -6), in a game to be played Thursday at 6:30p.m. at Warrior Field in Decatur. While ECCC head coach Willie Coats conceded that his team jg fully aware of the implications of the Hinds game. But an undefeated sea– son is still one of the team's goals and Coats said he hopes the Warriors are not overlooking Southwest, especially after last week's win over third-place Copiah-Lincoln, a game the Warriors won 20-14 in double overtime. "We're fighting that," Coats said. "This game is sand– wiched in bet>veen our two biggest games of the year and that game last week was really tough. But Southwest is better than a lot of people think. If they hadn't had the turnovers at crucial times that they've had. they would be righ t in the division race." Although he is confident his team will be prepared for the game, Coats said he expects Southwest to be even more driven. .- "This is their bowl game," Coats said. "If they were able to beat a ranked team like us, it would make their season. They beat Gulf Coast at Gulf Coast and they played Northwest to the end of the game. So they can play with anyone, they've just hurt themselves." · Joe Wickline is in his first year as the Bears' head coach, after building a resume full of dream assistant coaching jobs. After a playing career as a starting offensive lineman at Florida, Wickline went on the serve as an offensive line coach at Terrnessee. He then left the Volunteers to become offensive line coach at Delta State for four years. Later he took the same job at Ole Miss, a position he held for seven years. When Billy Brewer was fired in the :summer of 1994, Wickline moved on to an assistant's job at Pearl River and then on to Southwest this year. Coats said Wickline has an excellent staff and will have h1s team ready. "He's a good football coach," Coats said. "Hela coached all over and done a fine job everywhere."

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