2008

Coahoma~ High-Powered Offense Sinks ECCC Warriors

Ea!>l Central Community College's new spread offense proved it could score points Thursday night, but the Warrior defense was unable to stop Coahoma's high-powered at– tack as the Tigers rolled to a 47-31 season-opening victory at James E. Miller Field in Clarksdale. The Warriors, who took the1r only lead m the non-d1vision contest at 7-6 following Kendrick May's 87-yard kickoffreturn in early first-quarter action, were simply out– gunned by the Tiger squad, which compiled 494 yards of total offense and had 21 fust downs. "We were obviously disap– pomted in the loss," said first-year head coach Steve Cheatham. "We were flat and played with no emo– tion and intensity, and that's notWar– rior football." Cheatham said the Warriors also need to correct mistakes made on both sides of the ball. ··we allowed too many big plays on defense, especially the long punt return for a score and the two tong touchdown passes. The rough– ing-the-punter call early in the third quarter deep in their territory was also a big mistake. We also failed to con– vert several scoring opportunities. including the pass interception in the end zone early in the fourth period when we were down 34-23." "We did have some positive thmgs to happen on offense and in the kicking game." he noted, "but we have got to eliminate our mistakes and even more Important we've got to play with more enthusiasm and get our swagger back." Coahoma quarterback Marvin Pittman of Clarksdale found success through the air and on the ground against the Warrior defense, a~:. he completed 14 of 19 passes for 213 yards and two scores a 2U-yard stnke to \\ide receiver LaDarius Dawson ofRoscdale late in first-half action and a 40-yard strike to wide rece1ver Deangelo Anderson of Memphis early m the final stanza. Pittman \\as also Coahoma's top

of Benoit, a 72-yard punt return by Marcus Allen of Clarksdale and a three-yard blast by Katral James of Atmore, Ala. David Gallagher of Pensacola was successful on five PATs. Freshman Emmanuel Tay– lor had a successful debut as the War– riors' signal caller, connecting on 15 of 26 passes for 205 yards. He had one interception. Taylor, a product of Early County High School in Blakely, Ga., also had 78 yards rush– mg on 10 carries and scored on a 19- yard run tale in the game. Sophomore running back and return specialist Maurice Langston of Meridian had 156 all– purpose yards and led EC rushers with 90 yards on six carries and two scores. Langston, a product ofNorth– east Lauderdale High School, tallied on a five-yard run late in first-quar– ter action and added a 29-yard touch– down scamper \\ ith 1:40 left before halftime. Other top EC wshcrs were Duke Hudnall. a sophomore mnning back from NC\\tOn County High School, who had 48 yards on 11 car– ries, and freshman running back Der– rick Cadc ofTuscaloosa (Ala.) Cen– tral, 25 yards on five carries. In all. the Wamors had 244 yards rushing on 35 carrie!>. East Central registered 20 first downs. Sophomore k1d.er Derek Crenshaw ofNcshoba Central High School was successful on one of two field goals. He nailed a 40-yarder for the only pomts m the third period and barely missed a 42-yard attempt early in the second stanza. He also con– nected on three PATs and had one k1ckoff sail through the end zone. East Central hosts Holmes

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Community College Thursday in an– other non-division matchup. Kickoff IS set for 6:30p.m. at Batley Stadium. --- The Bulldogs began season ___ action by dropping a 23-16 decision to Pearl River Community College ,...-- – Thursday mght in Poplarville.

CARTHAGINIAN _ ____ SCOTT COUNTY TIMES ___ UNION APPEAL----- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL _

/ rusher, with 15 ~arries for 106 yards. ~~ ~Ti •erpointscam~onthree- and 11'-}~.mJ-ru~s b) TimcttyGraliam

Score by Qua ·ters - I ast Central (0-1) 13 7 3 8 31 Loahoma 1 1-tT·zo H 0 b 47

SPI RIT OF MORTON