2009

ECCC Warriors rally to shock Northeast 34-28 in overtime SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

crowd thought the "fat lady had already sung" and began leaving

game-winning score. The Tigers put the first points on the scoreboard when speedster Jere– my Cannon of New Albany tallied the f1rst .ofhis four touchdowns on a 6-yard run with 5:41 left in the f1rst penod. Turner, wh.nhails from.Hom Lake, made the first of his PATs to give Northeast a 7-0 lead. East Central tied the contest on the ensuing possession when Taylor found the end zone on his 36-yard scamper, capping a 63-yard, five– play drive with 2:43 remaining in the initial period. A key play during the brief drive was Taylor's IS-yard run to the Northeast 46. The Tigers regained the lead early in the second period on Can– non's 51-yard burst through the Warrior defense. EC threatened to score during several opportunities in the second period - including a fust and goal situation on the Tiger three with just under five minutes left before half– time. However, the scoring opportu– nity was nixed when Taylor threw one of his three interceptions on a fade route in the end zone. Taylor apparently wanted a more dramatic way to tie the contest and fired a strike to Dontice Sanders in the end zone on a 41-yard scoring pass play as time expired in the fust half. The five-play march began at the EC 25, and was highlighted by Tay– lor's 14-yard completion to Sanders on first and 15 from the EC 20, Tay– lor's 10-yard run to the EC 44, and Taylor's 15-yard pass completion to Radariuos Owens to the Northeast 41.

DECATUR - Emmanuel Tay- Bailey Stadium when Northeast (2- lor's 25-yard touchdown pass to 4) stretched its lead to 28-14 with Antonio Hughes in overtime com- 3:49 remaining. pleted a stellar performance for the But Taylor and the Warriors had s(lpbomor~ qua(terhac~ and pro\ ~d- other ideas and .quick.l} marched 65 ed East Central Commun1t} College ) ards in just six plays, capped by with a stunning 34-28 homecoming Taylor's 43-yard TO pass to Jeremy victory over Northeast Mississippi Haney with 1:29 left. A ke)' play Communit} College on Saturda) during the scoring drive included Taylor. a product of I:.arl) C oun- Taylor's 14-yard pass to McM11lan ty High School in Blakely, Ga.. on thtrd and seven, which gave EC completed 19 of 39 passes for 351 possession on the Tiger 48. yards and four touchdO\\OS, two of After the Warrior defense forced which amazingly came on the final the Tigers to punt on the ensuing play of each half. Taylor also com- possession, East Central took over piled 127 yards rushing on 13 car- on its own 18-yard line with just ries and found pay dirt on a 38-yard I :06 left. run. Taylor scrambled for 23 yards on The wm snapped a three-game first down to the EC 41, and later skid for the Warriors (2-4) who rat- connected with McMillan on a lied for two late scores - including seven-yard pass to the Warrior 48. Taylor's 36-yard touchdown strike After three straight incomplete to Ronnie McMillan as time expired passes, Taylor and Tevin Houston in regulation - to force the extra hooked up for a 16-yard completion period. The Taylor to McMillan on fourth and 10 to the Tiger 16. pass capped an 82-yard, nine-play Only seconds remained when EC drive that began with just over a called its final timeout to set the minute remaining. final play. Taylor took the snap from Interim Warrior Head Coach the shotgun formation and after Brian Anderson - who was obvi- scrambling briefly lofted a 36-yard ously ecstatic follO\\ mg the unbe- pass to McMillan who had gotten hevable comeback - praised his behind the Tiger defense in the end squad for not giving up, especial!)' zone. Chad Mangum booted his when trailing by 14 points with less fourth PAT and sent the contest into than five minutes kft in regulation. overtime. "It's amazing to me with all the Northeast went on offense first adversity - the two one-point loss- from the 25-yard line in the extra es that we've had - that we were period and quickly moved to the 13. able to battle back when it just However, the Warrior defense seems that it's over But that's the stiffened and forced the Tigers to J great thing about football, 1t's never attempt a 30-yard field goal but over until that horn blows!" Tyler r umer's kick was wide right, Many people in the homecoming and set the stage for the Warrior's

{,A " I.-.'"'..... ...... --------- NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL - ---

...... ~IIVOI-\ UC:IVIUI.,KA I ------ SCOTT COUNTY TIMES J ------ WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL ---

SPIRIT OF MORTON ---------- MERIDIAN STAR ---------

CLARION-LEDGER

--------