1999

Paula Merritt/The Meridian GOT IT - East Central Community College's Brian Jones, left, blocks the extra-point attempt by Gulf Coast Community ollege's Ryan Merrill during action Thursday night in Decatur. CCC blowout worth playoff berth rom Staff Reports total offense- 414 on the ground- to go with 16 first downs. yard run for ECCC and \Vith 11:12 left in the quarter, Hardy added the PAT for a 24-6 lead.

DECATUR - East Central Community ollege used a 20-point fourth quarter hursday night to blow Gult Coast ommunity College out, 50-12, to secure a ot in next week " junior college football ate playoffs. At 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the South 1vision, ECCC \\ill play at Northwest ommunity College, Saturday, Nov. 13 at a 1e to be announced. Hinds Community College defeated Pearl ver Community College Thursday night to ·n the South Division ti1le. It will play host Itawamba Community College, also next 'ek. On Thursday night, Jnmarcus Murray led ~e Warriors in rushing with 136 vnrds on t carncs. Overall. ECCC compiled 512 yard~ of

In the first quarter, ECCC's Anthony Thompson scored on a 51-yard fumble return to give the Warriors a 6-0 lead. Place– kicker Josh Hardy's point-after touchdown moved the ECCC lead to 7-0, with 11:18left. That would be all of the scoring in the first quarter. But in the second, Gulf Coast's Ricky Ricks scored on a 78-yard pass from quarterback Shannon Harris with 14:48 left before halftime. The kick for the PAT was blocked by ECCC's Brian J ones, leaving the Warriors with a one-point, 7-6, lead. After that, the Warriors took over. Chris Ray scored on an 89-yard run for ECCC with 14:23 left in the second and Hardy's PAT made it 14-6. Before the half, Hardy booted a 33-yard field goal to make it 17-6. In the third, Steve Henley scored on a 53-

Not to be left out. Murray got into the scoring act, going in from 2-vurds out. The kick for the PAT failed, and ECCC led 30 6 Gulf Coast \\ ouldn't go away, however, ns Jason Armstead eaught a 39-yard touch– down pass from Harris with 1·48 left in the third. The pass for the l\\ o-pomt conversion failed, and ECCC led 30-12. Then came the fourth quarter. Murmy opened the sconng for ECCC on a 13-yard run with 11:06 showing on th clock. The kick for the PAT was blocked nne the WmTiors led 36-12. Ti Garne1· added a 1:3-vard touchdow run and Henley a 21-yard.touchdown pa from Garner for J~CCC. Hanly would n1 two more PATs for a final of50."12

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