1999

George Clark/The Meridian Star BIG OPENING - East Mississippi Community College's Samuel Tisdale (16) hits the hole against the East Central Community College defense during Thursday night's game. Looking to make the tackle for ECCC is Josh Hardy (1) and Otllese Wells (12). ECCC rallies for victory :: Rocky Higginbotham

roaring past host East Mississip~i for a 33- 13 win over the Lions at EMCC s SUllivan– Windham Memorial Stadium. The win lifted ECCC to 2-1, while EMCC fell to 1-2. "It was just a great team win," an elated Underwood said afterwards. "The special teams and defense really stepped it up in the second half, and the offense did what it had to do for us to win." Underwood couldn't have said it better. Mter EMCC managed a 13-7 lead at half– time, it didn't take long for the momentum

to swing the way of the Warriors. In a stretch of 6:40, East Central blocked t\vo EMCC punts in the third quarter- big plays that put the Warriors on top to stay. "I thought we played okay early, but then (EMCC) won the second quarter,·· Underwood said. "Our coaches really chal– lenged our guys in the locker room to come out and make a big play early. "The two blocked punts ... to me, that was the key to the game," Underwood said. See ECCC, Page 38

COOBA - Terry Underwood doesn't • k like a coach who got blown out 53-8 two weeks ago. And by tlie way 1 neither do Underwood's East Central Warnors. East Central went on the road for the second straight week Thursday nihgt, and the Warriors came home with a win for a ,~nd straight week, as well. ECCC scored ~6 unan:-wered points in the second half,