2016 Combined

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The East Central Community College foot ball team brought home its first win of the season after traveling to Poplarville to take on the Pearl River Community College Wildcats in a MACJC South Division opener. The Warriors pulled out a 35-21 victory over the Wildcats by taking advantage of turnovers. Sophomore defensive back Juwon Hayes-Keyes of Taylorsville High School picked off three Pearl River passes during the contest. Pearl River got on the scoreboard first in the game on a 10-yard touch down pass on its opening possession. Hayes-Keyes got his first interception during the Wildcats next posses sion to put the Warriors in scoring position. East Central then had a 25-yard touchdown run by freshman Antonio Gibson of Eagles Landing (Ga.) High School, who had a notable perform ance at running back, to tie the ballgame at seven. Gibson also plays wide receiver for the Warriors. Early in the second quarter, the Warriors turned the ball over on their own 15, but the East Central defense held and Pearl River missed a 31 yard field goal to keep the game tied at 7-7. Gibson carried the load on an 80-yard drive capped by quarterback Dom Marino's nine-yard touchdown run that gave East Central a 14-7 lead. The Warriors did not hold the lead long when Pearl River returned the ensu ing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. East Central respond ed on the next kickoff with an 86-yard return by Devonta Jones of Morton High School to the Pearl

River nine yard line. Running back Dwayne Barnett of Harrison Central High School then found the end zone on the next play to put the Warriors back on top 21 14. East Central then took over on its own 27.with a fumble recovery by Isiah Thomas of Madison Central High School, but was not able to produce any points. Hayes-Keyes then had his second interception of . the first half to give the Warriors the football at the Pearl River 38. A few plays later, Barnett was able to stiff-arm his way into the end zone with a nine-yard touchdown run to extend the Warrior lead 28-14 at the half. In the third quarter, Hayes-Keyes had his third interception of the night giving the Warriors the football at their own 29. The Wamors extended their lead to three touch downs when Marino found Jones for a 57-yard touch down pass giving the Warriors a 35-14 lead with one minute to play in

find the end zone one more time in the fourth quarter before East Central ran the clock out for the win. For East Central, Marino, out of Venice (Fla.) High School, was 8 for 10 through the air for 119 yards. Gibson was the leader in rushing yards with 90 total yards for the Warriors on 12 carries. Barnett added 72 yards on the ground to go with his two touchdowns. Jones was the top receiver' with four catches for 77 yards. Defensive back Malik Davis of Red Bank High School in Chattanooga, Tenn., was credited with 9 tackles. Hayes-Keyes added six tackles. East Central improves to 1-2 on the season and 1 0 in the South Division. The Warriors will host Mississippi Gulf Coast next Thursday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m. in Bailey Stadium on Be Our Guest Night. High School stu dents will be admitted free and door prizes will be awarded.

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