2000

WEEK 0 F ____,__.,;:;) 0-+-) ~-+) (}).;.._,___

ECCC Warriors fall in double overtime at Gtilf Coast 47-41

Doug Gabriel's eight yard touchdown run in the second overtime period gave Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College a hard– fought 47-41 win over East Central Community College Thursday night · on the Perkinston campus in the south division opener for both squads. East Central, which fell to 3-1 on the young season, had rallied from a 27-7 first-half deficit and was in position to win the divi– sion matchup in regulation play when quarterback Mitchell McKinnon's one-yard: run tied the contest at 33-33 with 18 sec– onds remaining. However, a botched extra point attempt sent the game into overtime. During the first extra period, Gabriel again got the call and found pay dUt on a one yard plunge, capping a seven-day drive from the 25 yard line. Instead of kicking the PAT, Gulf Coast went for the two-point conversion and found success behind running back Jason Armstead, whose efforts gave the Bulldogs at 41-33 advan– tage. East Central responded with Terrance Wansley of Newton County scoring from one-yard out on the Warriors' sixth play from the 25-yard line. McKinnon then fired a strike to Clint Burkes of Scott Central to deadlock the contest at 41-41. It was Burkes' 14-yard reception from McKinnon that earlier gave EC first and goal from the one.

Ricky Ricks connected on a 17 yard scoring pass play, capping a six-play, 66-yard drive. Page fired a strike to nmning back Sidney Dumas for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead. East Central got its first score when McKinnon, a sophomore from Palatka Florida, found his favorite target, freshman Dontay Spillman of LouisviiJe, Kentucky, on a 21-yard recep– tion. Thoms added the PAT. Spillman's touchdown reception capped an eight-play, 52-yard march. Gulf Coast extended its first– quarter advantage to 21-7 when Annstead tallied on a fow·-yard bw-st. Zack Martin kicked the PAT. The short scoring drive was set up by a Warrior fumble on a punt retwn at the EC nine yard line. t The Bulldogs got their biggest lead of the night early in the second stanza when Gabriel crossed the goal line on a one– yard plunge, capping a six-play, 78-yard march. The PAT was blocked. A key play during the scoring drive was a 49-yard reception and run by Deloise Moore who hauled in Page's pass after it was deflected by Gabriel. East Central found ~ay dirt midway in the second period when defensive back D'Angelo Lewis of Fayetteville, North Carolina, intercepted Page's pass and raced 32 yards to the endzone. Thoms' PAT narrowed the scoring gap to 27-14 at half- time. - ._.... ....· - · -

Wansley first finding pay dirt on a six yard run with 13:45 left, capping an eight-play. 60- yard drive. A key play during the scoting march, which was set up by a Bulldog intercep– tion by Tommy Ford of Tuscaloosa was a 22 yard pass play from McKinnon to Bradford that gave EC posses– sion on the Gulf Coast eight– yard line. GulfCoa<>t later missed on a scoring opp01tunity thanks to Warrior linebacker Keith Curry of Newton county who blocked the Bulldogs· 34-yard field goal attempt. McKinnon later led the Warriors on a 14-play, 66 yard march that consumed over six and a half minutes and was capped by his short touchdown run that sent the contest mto extra periods. Statistics East Central had 245 yard-; rushing and 138 yards passing for a 383 total. McKimon led rushers with 102 yards on 19 carries. Wansley had 51 yards on 17 attempts. McKinnon completed seven of 15 passes for 138 yards. Top receivers were Spillman, two for 61 yards;Burkes, two for 17 yards and Bradford, one for 22 yards. EC had 12 first downs. Thoms punted five times for a 39-4 yard average. Gulf Coast bad 515 total yards, with 277 on the ground and 238 passing.The Bulldogs had 18 first do•..vns. Defensive leaders for East Central were Quentin Bowens of Killen, Ala., Joh Bibb of Tuscaloosa and Lewis, eight " ......11 ~ \.... ............ n~ .. -t-........ .f"'t..... l,..,

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