2010

WEEKOF CCi ~3/ \ / CJ D

Late touchdown lifts Southwest over ECCC A -;eao;on-ending victory was

ECCC Continued from page 3AA Bears' starting quarterback Vintavious Cooper. for a safety with 11:55 remaining in the game. The Wamors bad an opportu– nity to add to their slim margin on the enswng possession. driv– ing from their 42 to the Southwest 19. But Loris' 36- yard field goal attempt with 8:21 was wide left. After an exchange of posses– sion, the Bears took over on their 18 with 3:03 left. Cooper was injured after completing a seven-yard pass on first down to receiver Brian Cook of Independence, La., and was replaced by Martin who started the game at wide receiver. Martin's first pass was incomplete but a pass interfer– ence penalty awarded the Bears possession on the Southwest 40. He connected with Franklin for the eventual game-winning score on the next play.

The Warriors reached the Southwest 42 on the ensuing possession but turned the ball over on downs after coming up short on fourth and two. The Bears ran out the clock to pre– serve the win. East Central took an early 7- 0 lead when quarterback Blake Matherne of Boothville, La., tal– lied on a one-yard run with 8:33 lefl tn the opening stanza, cap– ping a 14-play. 62-yard drive. Loris added the PAT. Key plays during the scoring drive included Matherne's 18- yard completion to wide receiv– er Corey Collier of Tuscaloosa to the Southwest 27, followed by the Belle Chasse High School product's eight-yard toss on fourth and seven to wide receiv– er Radarious Owens of Quitman, which gave EC pos– session on the Southwest 16. The Bears scored on the next possession with running back

''I'm not ever gomg to criticize officials, but they played a huge part in tonight's game. "I know that we sometimes deserve penalties, but it's a tough way to go out. Our guys played hard enough and well enough to win. It's not going to leave a good taste in my mouth or any of our mouths. "I hate it for the kids that they 1 didn't get to go off this field for: the last time as a winner. And 1 hate we didn't get tQ 3-3 in the South because that is not done often here at East Central." The Warriors, who trailed 12- 10 at halftime, led throughout most of the contest and resumed the lead at 13-12 following Jason Loris' 38-yard field goal with 8:44 left in the tlurd period. Loris is a product of Moss Point High School. East Central extended its advantage to 15-12 after stand– out linebacker Chris Ficklin, a former Scott Central High School standout, tackled the See ECCC, page 6AA

not to be for East Central Commuruty College's Warriors, ns back-up Southwest ~ississippi Community College quarterback Mardavian Martin of Millbrook, Ala., tossed a 60- yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Alfred Franklin of Kentwood, La., with 2:35left to ralJy the Bears for a stunning 20- 15 victory Thursday night at Bailey Stadium on the Decatur campus. East Central, which once again was plagued by penalties and turnovers in the MAOC South Division battle, complet– ed the 2010 campaign at 2-7 overall and 2-4 in league play, while the Bears finished 4-5 and were also 2-4 in the division. Brian Anderson, who com– pleted his first official season as Warrior head coach after serving on an interim basis in 2009, said following the disappointing loss, "I've never seen so many penal– ties in my life," in referring to the 12 infractions for 95 yards.

Southwest threatened to score on its next possession but the 58-yard drive ended on EC's 14 following Cooper's fumble with 12:57 left before halftime.

Tray Bateaste of Gloster cross– ing the goal line from 14-yards out with 5:35 left in the first penod. capping a 12-play, 50- yard march. Justin Holt's PAT attempted wa~ blocked and EC held a 7-6 advantage.

The Bears registered a defen– sive score a short time later, as linebacker Kendrick Causey of Gloster picked off a Matherne pass and returned the pigskin 47 yards to pay dirt with J 0:10 --– remaining in the half. The two- point conversion failed, as --– Dustin Land of Milton, Fla., stopped Bateaste on the effort, - but Southwest led for the first _ _ _ _ ttme at 12-10. .\tatheme completed 12 of 27 passes for 127 yards and one interception. Collier was his top receiver

APPEARED IN:

East Central scored again on NES its next possession with Loris connecting on a 26-yard field SCO goal with 2:30 left m the open- 10g stanza. The Waniors had TON t drive!, which began at the EC 48 CLA follo\\ in I! the Bears' failed on,ide' ldck attempt. However, the march stalled at the South~est nine where the Warriors were unable to convert a fll'Sl do"'n on fourth and two.

CARTHAGINIAN

NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL

SPIRIT OF MORTON

------- great field position to start the

MERID'IAN STAR

~1th three catches for 63 yards. Owens bad six grabs for 52 yards. Matherne also led EC in rushing with 92 yards on 12 car– ries and one score.