2006

ECCC Returns Improved Squad

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITYCOLLEGE WARRIOR 2006-FOOTBALL

Stadium- where five games are scheduled in 2006- is a big plus for the program. "I love playing home games at Warrior Stadium and our players do, too. Everything is easier when you can just walk out of the dressing room onto the field, and that's ·some– thing we have not experienced in a while," Underwood said. "Of course our sophomores and freshmen have yet to experience a home game and it's going to be real exciting for them to play our first game at home, especially since our opponent is longtime rival East Mississippi. We're just looking for– ward to returning to Warrior Stadium and getting the season underway," Underwood said. Not only is Underwood excited about returning to Warrior Stadium, he is even. more excited about this year's tean1 and its possibilities. "We are very optimistic that we will be much improved on both sides of the ball, mainly because we feel we have been successful in upgrading our talent level," Underwood said. Und,erYJ9.9d ~d. the_ off~-n~e, which

READY FOR RETURN TO WARRIOR STADIUM SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

DECATUR DECATUR Ellisville DECATUR Poplarville DECATUR Wesson DECATUR Clarksdale

EASTMl SS. MISS. DEJ:I'A Jones SOUTHWES'l' Pearl River GULF COAST Co-Lin HINDS Coahoma

6:30 p.m. 6:30p.m. 7p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 2:30p.m . 5p.m. 6:30p.m. 7p.m.

Thurs., Aug. 31 Thurs., Sept. 7 Thurs., Sept. 14 Thurs., Sept. 21 Thurs., Sept. 28 *Sat., Oct. 7 Sat., Oct. 14 Thurs., Oct. 19 Thurs., Oct. 26

DECATUR- A talent-laden squad along with the return of football games to Warrior Stadium has East Central Community College head coach Terry Underwood "cautiously optimistic" about the 2006 campaign. Due to damages sustained at Warrior Stadium by Hurricane Katrina, all three of ECCC's "home games" in 2005 were played at the Newton County High School stadium. The Warriors were winless in all three match-ups-Pearl River, Gulf Coast and Hinds-while earning vic– tories on the road against East Mississippi. Copiah Lincoln and Jones before falling at Southwest in the season fmale of the seven-game schedule, shortened by the deadly storm. Underwood, who begins his ninth season at the Warrior helm, said returning to Warrior

TBA TBA

STATE PLAY-OFFS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

*Homecoming finished sixth overall last year, will be "greatly improved" thanks to tal– ented returnees and the addition of several players who were recruited spE>cifically for East Central's spread offensive attack, installed by first– year offensive coordinator Mike Volarvich in 2005. Top returnees on offense include Josh Lowry, a 6-2, 193-pound quarter– back from White County High School in Sparta, Tenn.; David McCants, a 5· 8, 185-pound r.unnin~ back _from

Tuscaloosa (Ala.) CoUl1tY High School; Desmond Graham, a 5-9, 190- pourid running back from NoxapatE>r: Colby Amis. a 5-10. 175-pound wid~ receiver from Newton County High School; Kerry Hudson , a 6-1, 275- pound guard from Philadelphia; Mentrell Ledbetter. a 6-1, 280-pound tackle from Louisville; Ross Tew, a 6 5, 300-pound tackle from Stringer, Johnathan Pickens, a 6-3, 305-pound tackle from Philadelphia and Grey Please see WARRIORS 300