2004

WEEK OF lH.i' ~ U 1ioly roller' for Warriors-

No

opportunities we had to score, especially in the first half when we settled for short field goals instead of touchdowns. "I was very proud of the way the team played. I thought we played hard throughout the game. The biggest thing I was proud of was the attitude of our kids. Even though we were down 14-0 early against a top-ranked team, our team never folded and never stopped believing that we could win the game. "I think we can learn an awful lot from this game, but we have to get over the loss and move on. I'm really excited about this team and think we have a chance to have a really good year, if we can eliminate our mis– takes."

If moral victories mean anything, the East Central Community College Warriors cer– M~ EC battled a Northwest Starn er Mississippi squad that is p ranked second nationally to the wire before falling 14-12. The Warriors had a shot at pulling off the upset, but backup kicker Jay McMillin was wide right on a 27-yard field goal kick with 2:50 remaining. McMillin, a sophomore who was filling in for Ryan Gale, who was limited to only a punting role due to a groin pull, had made kicks of 29 and 25 yards earlier in the game despite not having kicked since his high school days at Wmston Academy. "Jay practiced kicking only two days prior to the game," ECCC head coach Terry Underwood said. "We did not lose the game because Jay missed the field goal. We lost the game because we did not capitalize on tainly picked one up last Thursday night at Senatobia. the third quarter on McMillin's 25-yard field goal. The Warriors scored their only touch– down with 12:27 left in the game on a 13-yard run by tailback Terrance McFadd~n. The freshman from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., rushed for 119 yards on 24 carries. The Warriors covered 50 yards in 12 plays for their only touchdown of the night. Down 14-12, the Warriors attempted a two-point conversion, but fumbled the ball mto the end :zone on a pass play. The odds of the two-pointer were already against the Warriors as a penalty had backed the ball to the 8-yard line. EC quarterback Robbie Morse completed a pass to tight end Cameron Tawater, who fumbled at the 2. The ball was recovered by offensive tackle James Ozment in the end zone, but the score was wiped off AF as Ozment was ruled to be ineligible to make the recovery, unlike the Oakland Raiders' infamous "Holy Roller" touchdown of N'FL Lt lore.

Northwest scored two touchdowns in the first half but could manage just two first downs in the second half with its starting quarterback, Lewis Kuffuor, missing three of six series with a groin injury. EC cut the Rangers' lead to 14-6 early in in 14-12loss to NW

Linebacker Paul Tolbert set up EC's first field goal when he recovered a fumble at the ..----=--.--. Ranger 20. Derrick Harris put

the Warriors in business to start the second half with a 51-yard kickoff return to the Ranger 41. The Warriors converted a fourth-and-7 with a fake punt, but again set– tled for a McMillin field goal. Harris set up EC's

final shot at the win when he returned a punt 20 yards to the .______._____, NWCC 30 with 5:33 Derrick Harris remaining. McFadden had three runs for 23 yards, but missed two plays Continued on page SA... See ECCC...

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