EMCC quarterback Quez Johnson earns second MACJC Offensive Player of the Week honor

SCOOBA – On the heels of posting career-best numbers in third-ranked East Mississippi Community College's 56-49 home win over No. 5 Northwest Mississippi last Thursday, Lion freshman quarterback Quez Johnson has been tabbed the MACJC/jucoweekly.org Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Johnson, a former standout at Starkville High School, accounted for 536 yards of total offense and had a hand in seven of the Lions' eight touchdowns scored against the Northwest Rangers.  Johnson threw for a career-high 422 yards and four touchdowns on 33-of-46 passing to secure EMCC's fourth MACJC North Division regular-season football title in five years.  The 6-foot-1, 225-pound signal caller also rushed for a career-most 114 yards on 21 carries with three more scores via the ground.

This marks the second time this season that Johnson has claimed MACJC/jucoweekly.org Offensive Player of the Week laurels, having previously earned the honor following EMCC's 59-6 road triumph over Southwest Mississippi during the third week of the season.  Johnson joins fellow two-time EMCC honoree LeDarious Clark, who was previously tabbed the MACJC's Special Teams Player of the Week following Lion victories over Pearl River and Coahoma.

For the season, Johnson has completed 162-of-282 passes (57%) for 2,153 yards, 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions.  He also ranks third on the EMCC squad with 299 rushing yards on the year and is tied for the team lead with sophomore running back Rodriguez Moore with nine rushing touchdowns.

Also earning MACJC/jucoweekly.org Player of the Week honors for last week's efforts were Itawamba defensive back Brandon Smith and Holmes kick returner Fred Franklin on special teams.

Owners of a current 20-game winning streak dating back to last year's NJCAA national championship season, head coach Buddy Stephens' 8-0 EMCC Lions will close out the regular season Saturday afternoon (4 p.m.) in Fulton against the Indians of Itawamba Community College.  The Lions enter their regular-season finale with ICC having prevailed in all 14 previous MACJC North Division road contests under Stephens' guidance.

Set for their fifth consecutive appearance in the MACJC State Playoffs, the EMCC Lions have clinched the top seed in the MACJC's North Division and will play host to the South's No. 2 seed on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Scooba.  The 2012 MACJC State Championship Game will then pit the winners of the two Nov. 3 semifinal-round playoff games the following Saturday (Nov. 10).