2009

ECCC Warriors

Emmanuel Taylor's 25-y:ud touchdown pass to Antonio Hughes in overtime complet– ed a steUar petfonnance for the sophomore quarterback and provided East Central Community College with a stunning 34-28 homecoming victory over Northeast Missis– sippi Community CoUege Sat– urday afternoon on the Decan1r campus. Taylor, a product of Early County High School in Blake– ly, Ga., completed 19 of 39 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns, two of which amazingly came on the final play of each half. Taylor also compiled 127 yards rushing on 13 carries and found pay dirt on a 38-y:ud run. The win snapped a three– game skid for theWarriors (2· 4) who rallied for two late scores · including Taylor's 36- y:ud touchdown strike to Ron· nie McMillan as time expired in regulation - to force the extra period. The Taylor to McMillan pass capped an 82· yard, nine-play drive that began with just over a minute remaining. InterimWarrior head coach Brian Anderson - who was obviously ecstatic following the unbelievable comeback - praised his squad for not giv– ing up, especially when trail– ing by 14 pointswith less than five minutes left in regulation. "It's amazing to me with all the adversity · the two one– point losses that we've had · that we were able to battle back when it just seems that it's over. But that's the great thing about football;it's never over until that hom blows!" Many in the homecoming crowd thought the "fat lady had already sung" and began leaving Bailey Stadium when Northeast (2-4) stretched its lead to 28-14 with 3:49

plays, capped by Taylor's 43- yardTD pass toJeremy Harvey with 1:29 left. Akey play dur– ing the scoring drive included Taylor's 14-yard pass to McMil– lan on third and seven, which gave EC possession on the ·Tiger 48. · After the Warrior defense forced the Tigers to punt on the ensuing possession, East Cemra.l took over on its own 18-yard linewith just 1:061eft. Taylor scrambled for 23 yards on first down to the EC 41, and later connected with McMillan on a seve&yard pass to the Warrior 48.After three straight incomplete passes, Taylor and Tevin Houston hooked up for a 16-y:ud com– pletion on fourth and 10 to the Ttger 36. Only seconds remained when EC called its final timeout to set the final play.Taylor took the snap from the shotgun formation and after scrambling briefly lofted a 36-yard pass to McMillan

APPEAREC

NESHOBADEMOCRAT ___ \~~---- SCOTT COUNTY TIMES ________ WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL ../' --- CLARION-LEDGER-----------

CARTHAGI NEWTON C

SPIRIT OF I remammg.

But Taylor and !he Warriors MERIDIAN ~ had other ideas and quickly marched 65 yards in iust six