Newspaper Clippings

Neshoba D~mocrat, Philadelphia, Miss., November 2.1983_ East Central Junior College Nipped y Jones In Game's Final Moments

Stacy Powell then hit Percy Johnson for 16 yards to the Jones 31. Following an in· complete pass Powell hit AI Walker who carried 28 yards to the Jones three. Walker then carried the remaining distance for the touchdown. Luke Parks added the extra– point and East Central trailed 13~ with 37 seconds left. The half didn't end without some dramatics when Hopper threw 56 yards to Craig Cross on the last play of the half. The play ended on the EC two yard line. Jones mounted a scoring threat in the third quarter when Hopper hit JeffWiley for first down at Warrior five yard line. Three plays later the Bobcats faced a 4th and

goal from the one yard line and elected to go for six points rather than the field goal. The Warriors defense stop– ped the Bobcats on the fourth down and the offense took over driving the ball out to the 39 before being forced to punt. After exchanging punts East Central took over on the Bob– cat 43. After an incomplete pass from Powell to Johnson, AI Walker broke through the left side line and went 43 yards for the touchdown. Luke Parks' point after was good and East Central was 14-13. East Central missed a golden scoring opportunity after the Bobcats mishandled a punt and the Warriors recovered on the Jones one.

Jones quarterback David Hopper ran 53 yards for a tout'hdown with :01 left on the clock and carried with him East Central's hopes for a state championship. It was a disappointing con-. lusion in a game which the Warriors came from behind twice and had taken the lead nly 30 seconds left in the game. Jones opened the scoring on their second possession of the game driving 60 yards score with 4: 07 left in the first quarter, the big play coming on a fourth down try early in the drive. Facing fourth and less than a yard at midfield Jones con– verted and the drive con– tinued. David Hopper hit tight– end Marty Griffin for 16 yards r:__... I"!\ ....

and the touchdown. Todd Mangum kicked the extra point and Jones led 7~. Jones second score followed an East Central fwnble at the Bobcats 41. A first down play looses and then Lonnie May carried for eight yards to the Bobcats 48. May then burst off left tackle and sprinted 50 yards to the Warrior two and the first quarter ended. Two plays later Lewis Mickell scored three yards out. The extra– point by Todd Mangwn failed and Jones led 13-(1 with 14:22 left in the half. The Warriors mounted its only scoring drive with 1:37 left following an unsuccessful fake punt by Jones. East Cen– tral took over on the Bobcat 47.

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