2007

WEEK o/ 3 or 3 I r;] I I

Warriors concentrate on The "new" offense worked out just flne for head coach Terry Underwood and his East Central Community Col– lege Warriors who claimed a 31-20 season opening victo– ry over long-time rival East Mississippi Community Col– lege on a soggy Sullivan-Windham field Thursda~ night in Scooba. game, the Warriors revealed an effective passing attack as first-year quarterback DeonWilliams, a transfer from Val– dosta (Ga.) State and former standout at Thscaloosa (Ala.) County High School, completed nine of 18 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown - a 54-yard bomb to sopho– more wide receiver Michael Townsend of Forest.

"We can throw the football," Underwood added, ''as evidenced by the long touchdown pass Deon threw to Townsend and another great pass that Katlan (French) made that set up a score. But our fundamental philosophy is to run the ball flrst." Underwood was also complimentary of the Warrior defense, which had the unenviable task of trying to stop the state's leading rusher from last year- LaGarrette Blount of Perry, Fla. Blount got most of his 119 yards in the flfSt half, as the Warrior defense basically shut down the Lions' rushing efforts in the second half. The Warriors and Lions had 14 first downs each. Townsend led EC receivers with three catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. EMCC had l07 yards rushing and 169 yards passing. Defensively, the Warriors were led by linebacker David Becken of Philadelphia, who had I I tacldes and six assists. The Warriors travel to Mjssissippi Delta Community College on Thursday for another non-division match-up. Kickoff is 7 p.m. in Moorhead.

Underwood, who ditched the "spread offense" the Warriors used the past few years and returned to a more run-oriented attack, was obviously pleased with the results. "This was a great team effort and I thought we played well in all areas- offense, defense and the kicking game," said Underwood, who is in his tenth year leading the War– rior football program. "It was a tough, bard-nosed game. East Mississippi has a good football team and I was very happy with the win." The Warriors amassed 422 yards of total offense - which included 274 yards on the ground. Sophomore Roosevelt Ross of Ocala, Fla., and freshman Maurice Langston, a product of Northeast Lauder~e High School in Meridian, led the rushing attack, and sophomore Lamario Hopson of Meridian also had a productive out– ing as a sub in the final stanza. Ross compiled 100 yards on 14 carries and Langston posted 123 yards on 19 attempts. Hopson added 29 yards on nine carries. Although the emphasis this year is on the running

APPEARED IN:

''NESHOBA DEMOCRAT j ~---- NEWTON RECORD ___________ MERIDIAN STAR------– CLARION-LEDGER------ OTHER ___________________

CARTHAGINIAN------– SCOTT COUNTYTIMES-----– UNION APPEAL--------– WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL----

SPIRIT OF MORTON--------