2007

WEEK OF ~p.i 2Jf/o J

]8A • THE SCOTI COUNTY TIMES

ECCC Warriors To SPECIAL TO THE TIMES DECATUR- East Central Community College will be aiming to snap its two-game losing skid

ECCCWarriors fall victim to Southwest SUMMIT-A fourth-quarter lead slipped away again for the East Central Community College Warriors, who dropped a 25-21 decision to Southwest Mississippi Community

Thursday night when the War:riors host nationally ranked Pearl River Community College in a MACJC South Division match-up. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Bailey Stadium on the Decatur campus. The Warriors, who are 2-2 overall and 0·2 league play, began the 2007 campaign with convincing victories over East Mississippi (31-20) and Mississippi Delta (35-7), and dropped its last two decisions to J ones County (Sl-29) and Southwest (25-21) when both teams rallied for late scores. The Wildcats, rated the nation's top– rated squad prior to their 24-17loss to Gulf Coast in week three, sport a 3-1 over all mark and are 1-1 in the divi– sion. Pearl River has recorded wins over Mississippi Delta (50-10), Coahoma (35-0) and Copiah-Lincoln (14-2). The Wildcats are ranked sixth in the latest JUCO poll. East Central has one of the league's top offenses, averaging 362.3 yards per contest. Sophomore running back Roosevelt Ross is among the state's top rushers with a 99.5-yard average per game and six touchdowns. The Warriors are allowing 347 yards per game. Pearl River has the state's top pass– ing attack, averaging 217.3 yards per game. The Wildcat defense is giving up just 213.8 yards per contest. East Central will also be looking for its first win over Pearl River since a 21·6 victory in 2001. Warrior head coach Terry Underwood is a former assistant on the Wildcat staff. The ECCC-Pearl River match-up is also ''Be Our Guest Night" for area high school students, who will be admitted to the game free of charge. The special guests will also have the opportunity to win various door prizes and one lucky student will have a chance to win free tuition for the 2008 fall term by successfully kicking a 20-yard field goal during halftime

College Thursday night. East Central held a 21- 6 advantage early in the final stanza but the Bears rallied for three scores in the final13 minutes, including a g\une-winning five-yard touchdown run by quar– terback Walter Mason with 1:15 remaining. The Warriors, who fell

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to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the MACJC South Division, suffered a similar fate to visiting Jones County Junior College the previous week, los– ing 32-29 on a 27-yard TD pass with 17 seconds remaining. Southwest is now 2-2 and 1-1. After a sluggish start for both offenses, East Central took a 7-0 lead when quarterback Deon Williams con– nected with running back Maurice Langston on a 25-yard touchdown pass with just over 10 minutes left before halftime. Langston caught the pass after the ball was tipped by Bear defender Myrio Cotton. Beau Hannah of Morton added the PAT. The drive covered 53 yards and took just six plays. Southwest got on the scoreboard on its first possession of the second half when quarterback EJ Legree crossed the goal line from three yards out. The PAT failed. East Central responded in grand style on the ensuing kickoff, as Langston broke clear for a 93-yard touchdown scamper. Hannah's PAT extended the Warrior lead to14-6 with 11:46 remaining in the third stanza. The Warriors scored again to begin fourth quarter action, with Williams finding pay dirt on a five-yard run, capping a short 21-yard, five-play drive, set up by Langston's 36-yard punt return. Hannah again added the PAT and EC held a 21-6 advantage.

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