2005

East Cent ~al falls, takes on EMCC

By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Staff Reporter DECATL'R - The East Central Commumty College Warriors will be looking to get their season on track Thu!">dl) mght when they visit area mal East Mtssissippi. Kkkoff i' c;et for 6:30 p.m. Both teams lost their season openers. East Central dropped a 35- 10 dect\iOn to defending national champion Pearl River Saturday after– noon m a game played at 1\ewton County High School. The Lions. mean\\ htle. fell 31-14 to Mtssisstppt Della last Thursday. ·'This series has a lot of histo– ry," 'aid ECCC coach Terry Under– \\OOd ... Many of the players know each other, It's a good rivalry. "This is the ·only non-div1sion game we will play this season. but it is still very important. Both teruns are looking down the barrel of a 0-2 start, and neither wants to do that:· Barrel said. East Central will hope to have a better offensive performance against East Mississippi than they tlid against Pearl River. Pearl River had a 378-156 edge in total ) ards gained on offense. The Wildcats had 195 yards rushing on 33 cames. and 183 yards passtng. Ea~t Central turned in 67 yards rush– ing and 89 )arcb passing agaim.t the two-time defending state champion,. "Pearl River has a great team. anti our defen.,e reall) pla}ed a good game," said C'nderwood. ··But we were inconsi~tent on offense and with our kicking game. We ha\e got to get better." The Warriors stayed even with

Ken Chathman hauls in a pass. Pearl River during the first quarter anti through the lirst part of the sec– ond period. Then Pearl River took possession on the ECCC Hl-yard line. Sopho– more quanerhack Jimmy Oliver con– nected with rccci\er Larry Freeman on a 21-) ard pas' pia) to put the Wildcat' on the ECCC "4. Two plays later, Olhcr found K)k. Sclkrs on an eight-) ard pas-. pia) that gave the Wildcats a flr!>l-and-goal on th,e ECCC 9. On the next pia). Oli\'er C(lnncctcd \\ ith Jcffe) Smith on a nine-yard touchdo\\ rt pia} Scott Hillery hooted the two-point eom·er– sion :md FCC • led 7-0 with 6:34 left tn the half. See ECCC, page 11A