1996

WEEK 0 F _ _....\ o~--.:~..3 ~3 .:.._- ~q .J...I. 1 o:_______

Rema i n unde feated ... EC scrambles by Perk 28-23 Playing in their first foot–

The short ~coring drive was set up when \Varrior defender \\ 1ll iam Cur:] recovered a Bulldog Fumble on the GC 26. Gulf Coac.t narrowed the EC edJ earl) in the second period on Sud.O\\ ·, 36-) ard field goal with 13 11~ kft before halftime . The \\arnors held on to their l.!-10 lead at Intermission. Gulf Ctanza "hen quarterback Robinson nedkeu o; • '1c. goal line from one– }ard out Suckow\ PAT made the score - .. 1:1 • avor of the host Bulldog' Gulf Coast had an excellent opportunity to pad its lead when Warrior running back Mack Pittman fumbled on the EC nine-yard line, \t,h'ch Wlh recovered by Bulldog Gc:.ne Gilde., However. the Warrior defense sr·ftened, and when Warrior defensi\ t back Ashanti Webb blocked Suckow\ 30-yard field goal a e11p1. "new life" was pumped into the Warrior squad. After the blocked fi eld goal. Ea't Central took possession on its .:! I and drove the remaining distance m JUSt eight plays, with Pittman finding paydirt on an eight– yard burst. Walker added the PAT and EC led :!1-17 with 4:32 left i~ the thud. Key plays during the scor– ing march were a 29-yard screen pasl> from KIZZiah to Pittman, and Pittman's runs of five II, L 9 and fi ve yards which set up the go-ahead touchdown. The Warriors added an "insurance" tally two minutes later when Bradford scored on a one-yard plunge. Walker's PAT gave EC a 28- 17 lead with 2:37 left in the third period. The short scoring drive was set up when Warrior defender Dejuan Clark recovered Robinson 's fumble on the GC 17. Ea!>t Central scored four plays later. Fourth quarter action began with Hunt's 68-yard punt into the Gulf Coast endzone.

The Bulldogs quickly marched up field but a possible scoring opportunity \\as nixed when Warrior defender Mark Thomas intercepted Robinson's pass on the Warrior 31 with 13 52 remaining. After an exchange of pos– session, Gulf Coast had the ball on its 10-yard line. The Bulldogs, unable to move against the Warrior defense, tried a fake punt from their own 11 which was not successful and EC took over on the GC 13. However, the Warriors were unab,le to cash in the scoring oppor– tunity. as Walker's 40-yard fi eld goal attempt was not succtssful. Gulf Coast then took pos– session on its 23, and two plays later scored on a 73-yard pass from Robinson to receiver Andrece White. The try for the two-point conversion failed but Gulf coast now trailed 28-23 with just under eight minutes left. On their next possession, the Warriors suffered an interception with Bulldog Jose Gonzales nabbmg the tipped pass from Kizz1ah. The Bulldogs took posses– sion on their 33 and drove to the EC 24, when Warrior Neal Keeton of Morton recovered a Bulldog fum– ble, stopping the.scoring threat. East Central maintained possession for almost four minutes until Hunt was forced to punt on a fourth and 31 Situation from the Warr~or 18-yard-line. Once again, Hunt kicked a boomer, th1s time a 58-yarder to the Gulf Coast 24. On the first play from scrimmage. East Central\ Dejuan Clark intercepted Robinson's pass, and the Warriors ran out the clock to preserve the victory. This Thursday, East Central hosts Jones Count} Junior College (2-5, 0-3) at 6:30 p.m. in Warrior Stadium. Members of the 1996 ECCC Homecommg Court will be presented during halftime cere– monies. A reception will also be held in Mabry Memorial Cafete na following the game.

ball game since the tragic death of freshman teammate Nathan Russell of Hillsboro, East Central Community College responded in a way the former Forest High School standout would have wanted: with a victory!! The Warriors, ranked ninth in the latest JNCAA poll, remain undefeated in the '96 campaign b} outscoring Miss. Gulf Coast 28-23 Saturday afternoon, spoiling the Bulldogs' homecoming celebration on the Perkinston campus. With it~ South Division win, ECCC improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in div ision play, while Gulf Coa~t dropped to 2-5 and 2-2. It was obvious from the start that the Warriors had Russell on their minds, as a somewhat unex– pired squad took the field. Even more obvious were the feelings the EC players had for their friend, as team members displayed a "20 NR'' decal on the back of each helmet, signifying Russell 's number and ini– tials. Gulf Coast was the first to tally in this high scoring matchup when speedster Dennison Robinson returned Warrior AI Hunt's punt 75 yards to paydirt. Chris Suckow's PAT gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 5:03 remaining in the initial period. On the next possession, the Warriors tied the division matchup when quarterback Jake Kizziah loft– ed a perfect pass to Timmy Livingston of Leake Academy for a 33-yard touchdown strike. Morton 's Shaun Walker kicked the PAT and deadlocked the contest at 7-7 with 2:50 remaining. A key play during the 66- yard, five-play drive was a 20-yard scamper by Steven Bradford, a for– mer standout at Scott Central High School. East Central took the lead

APPEARED ·just over a minute later when CARTHA~.z~iah found receiver Calvin NESHOBA Illlams on a- 26-yard pass play. Walker again added the PAT and NEWTON ~ave EC a 14-7 margin. CLARION-LtlJuER - ---- --

JUU RNAL_ ___

MERIDIAN STAR____ _