Top-ranked EMCC Lions open division football slate with convincing 83-7 road triumph over Coahoma

CLARKSDALE – Scoring touchdowns on all nine offensive possessions in the opening half, the top-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College exploded for 69 first-half points en route to recording a dominating 83-7 road victory over Coahoma Community College Thursday evening at James E. Miller Stadium.

With 34 points in the opening quarter and 35 more in the second period, the 69 points through the first 30 minutes of play set a new single-half standard for Buddy Stephens-coached EMCC teams.  Only a 51-point third quarter during a 79-7 triumph at Northwest Mississippi last season as well as last year's 90-7 homecoming victory over Coahoma have topped previous single-game scoring efforts by the Lions during Stephens' seven-year coaching stint in Scooba.

On his way to accounting for 379 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in less than one half of play, sophomore quarterback Chad Kelly got things rolling for the visitors by scoring on an 8-yard keeper just two minutes into the contest.  With 11 different Lion players scoring touchdowns on the evening, Kelly hit freshman Allenzae Staggers for a 48-yard touchdown pass at the 8:07 mark for the first of four scoring tosses by the Clemson University transfer.

Two minutes later, freshman running back DJ Law tallied his first of two touchdown runs on the night with a 14-yard scoring burst.  By way of Haines City, Fla., the reigning MACJC Special Teams Player of the Week capped his 102-yard rushing effort (on just 11 carries) against the Tigers with a 2-yard score early in the fourth quarter to wind down EMCC's scoring parade.   

Just as dominant as the Lions were with their 673 yards of total offense for the evening, despite a running clock being used throughout the second half because of the MACJC's newly implemented 38-point differential mercy rule, EMCC's stifling defensive unit also played an equally major role in the game's one-sided outcome.  With four minutes remaining in the opening quarter, sophomore cornerback Quan Latham blocked a Cody Spears punt deep in Coahoma territory and then recovered the football in the end zone to increase the lead to 28-0.                

Following another three-and-out possession by the home team, the visitors extended the margin to 34-0 late in the quarter when Kelly found sophomore Kameron Myers in the right corner of the end zone from 15 yards out for his fourth touchdown reception of the season.  EMCC's game-opening scoring run was temporarily put on hold within the final minute of the first period when Coahoma quarterback Anthony Mitchell Jr., connected with receiver K'shun Evans on an 11-yard touchdown toss.

The Lions didn't waste any time getting back on the scoring track by duplicating their five-touchdown effort in the opening quarter with five more scores in the second period.  After an 85-yard scoring drive culminated with a 17-yard pass play from Kelly to receiver Dario Robinson to make it 41-7 by the 12:39 mark, EMCC again showed its muscle on defense by quickly turning a pair of turnovers into back-to-back scores.  Three plays after a Mickey Ridley Jr., fumble was recovered by JaQarius Scott, Lion receiver Camion Patrick ran it in from 5 yards out.  A subsequent fumble by CCC's Mitchell was recovered by Caleb Grant and then cashed in two plays later for an 11-yard touchdown strike from Kelly to Sammie Burroughs to run the score to 55-7 with 9:21 still left until intermission.

With Todd Mays now under center for the reigning national champions, the former Olive Branch High School standout contributed to EMCC's final two scores of the opening half.  After Mays found the end zone from 2 yards out with 4:13 remaining for his 17^th career rushing touchdown, Ja'Marcus Revies was on the receiving end of an 18-yard scoring aerial from Mays during the final seconds of the half to account for the insurmountable 69-7 halftime margin.          

Utilizing a second-half running clock, EMCC managed two more touchdowns following intermission.  Freshman quarterback Wyatt Roberts hooked up with sophomore receiver Isaac Johnson on a 14-yard scoring pass around the 5:30 mark of the third quarter, while Law's second score of the game around the 11:37 mark of the final period closed out the game's scoring.       

Having finished his night's work prior to the halftime break, EMCC's Kelly still managed to throw for 323 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-28 passing.  The Buffalo, N.Y., native also ran for 56 yards, including the game-opening touchdown, on four carries.  Kelly's top target again was Myers, as the Charleston High School product caught seven passes for 141 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Winners of 35 of their last 37 contests dating back to their 2011 national championship season, including a current streak of 15 consecutive wins, the 3-0 East Mississippi Lions stay within division play by playing host to the Tigers of Northeast Mississippi Community College Thursday (Sept. 18) on the Scooba campus.  Kickoff at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field is set for 7 p.m.