2009

East Central CC Warriors SPECIALTO THE TIMES

toward the end of the sea– son, and hopefully the momentum from the end of the season will carry into this year." To be successful in 2009, Anderson s.aid the Warriors· must begin the season on a positive note. "Last year we did not get off to a good start and 1 think our conditioning was a big factor in our loss (47- 31) to Coahoma," he said. "That's why we have put so much emphasis on our summer workout pro– gram, which I think will pay big dividends during the season." And if early preseason practices are an indication of what's to come, Ander– son said Warrior fans will be pleased with this year's results. ··so far, so good" is how Anderson describes the ftrSt week of August drills, which includes a 22- practice schedule prior to the season opener. "We don't have any major injuries to report thus far. The players have respond– ed well under some adverse conditions, as we are right in the middle of two-a-days. The players are competing well and working very hard." However, Anderson noted the key to success will be the leadership pro– vided by the 19 returning lettermen, beginning with returning quarterback Emmanuel Taylor, a 6 foot, 170-pound player, one of 10 returnees from the offensive unit. In addttion to Taylor, other top offensive returnees include wide

DECATUR- Interim head football coach Brian Anderson is hoping momentum is on the side of his East Central Com– munity College Warriors, who finished the 2008 campaign by winning three of their last four con– tests, including a stunning 44-38 double-overtime shocker over the then number five ranked and playoff-bound Pearl River Community College Wild– cats in the season finale in Poplarville. East Central also posted wins over Northeast (38-7) and Co-Lin (35-28 in OT) during the season-ending stretch, and came within three points (38-35) of upending eventual state champion Gulf Coast. Anderson, who begins his second year at East Central and will continue to serve as offensive coor– dinator, is counting on the Warriors to improve on last year's 4-5 overall mark and 3-3 slate in the MACJC South Division. East Central will get its ftrst test of 2009 by host– ing Coahoma Community College on Thursday, Aug. 27. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Bailey Stadium on the Decatur campus. "The foundation was

laid last year and now it is time to build upon that foundation," said Ander– son, who succeeds former head coach Steve APPEARE Cheatham who resigned in July, citing health and CARTHAC family reasons "I felt like \\ e were one of the top two SCOTT C< or three teams in the state

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