Top-ranked EMCC Lions set to host Northeast Mississippi Thursday in MACJC North Division home opener

SCOOBA – Having outscored their first three opponents by an average margin of 50 points a game, the top-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College open the home portion of their MACJC North Division football schedule by playing host to Northeast Mississippi Community College Thursday evening on the Scooba campus.  Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field.

Already one-third into their regular-season slate, head coach Buddy Stephens' 3-0 EMCC Lions have thus far knocked off Southwest Mississippi (52-14) on the road as well as then-No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln (46-10) in Scooba and most recently Coahoma (83-7) a week ago in Clarksdale.  Averaging just over 60 points and 585.3 yards of total offense per game on the year, East Mississippi stands third nationally in both team statistical categories behind Trinity Valley Community College and Blinn College of the Texas junior college ranks.  In addition, the Lions lead all NJCAA-member schools with an average of 29.3 first downs an outing.

Individually, EMCC sophomore quarterback Chad Kelly ranks third among NJCAA statistical leaders in passing yards per game (299.7 yds/gm) and touchdowns thrown (11).  The Clemson University transfer by way of Buffalo, N.Y., has completed 70 percent of his passes on the year and has yet to throw an interception in 93 pass attempts through the first three games.

The Lions' talent-laden running attack features four players with at least 138 rushing yards on the year.  Comprised of team rushing leader DJ Law (257 yards) along with sophomores Kelly (138), Preston Baker (188) and Todd Mays (149), all four players have rushed for multiple touchdowns to this point and all are averaging at least six yards per carry.

East Mississippi's depth at the receiver position is showcased by the fact that the Lions boast 14 different players who have caught at least one pass this season, including a dozen with multiple receptions on the year and nine already with touchdown catches.  Leading the way is sophomore speedster Kameron Myers, who ranks fourth nationally with an average of 121.7 receiving yards per contest.  The Charleston High School product has caught a state-best 21 passes through three games for 365 yards and four touchdowns. 

Defensively, EMCC is giving up an average of only 10.3 points per game and has yet to surrender a rushing touchdown on the year.  Three games into the season, 11 different Lion defenders have been credited with at least one tackle behind the line of scrimmage, including six players who have gotten to the opposing quarterback at least once.    

Individually on the defensive side of the ball, LSU transfer Lorenzo Phillips is tied for fourth nationally with 5.5 sacks for 33 total yards.  With 14 total stops for the season, the Port Sulphur, La., native is EMCC's No. 3 tackler behind linebackers Justin Lucas and Demetrius Cain.

On special teams for the Lions, Law, out of Haines City, Fla., is ranked second nationally with an average of 46.2 yards on five kickoff returns this season.  In addition, sophomore kicker/punter Drew White rates second among NJCAA placekickers with 29 points scored on a pair of made field goals and 23-of-24 accuracy in point-after-touchdown attempts.

Guided by seventh-year head football coach Ricky Smither, Northeast Mississippi is 1-2 overall on the year after entering the win column a week ago with a 25-19 overtime home victory over Northwest Mississippi to begin division play.  The Tigers opened the current campaign with non-division setbacks to Mississippi Gulf Coast (41-8) and Hinds (31-12).

In the recent series history between the two teams, East Mississippi has prevailed in seven of the last eight gridiron meetings, including shutout victories over the Tigers last season in Scooba (59-0) and two years ago in Booneville (49-0).  EMCC's Stephens is 5-1 against Northeast during his head coaching career, with that one loss (49-42 at Scooba in 2010) to Northeast ranking as one of only three MACJC North Division setbacks (in 37 division games) suffered by the Lions' seventh-year mentor.  In EMCC's five most recent triumphs over Northeast dating back to 2008, the Lions have won by an average margin of 44.6 points.         

Throughout this football season, EMCC's football games will be broadcast live by WFCA-FM (107.9), out of French Camp, with Jason Crowder and Glen Beard set to describe the play-by-play action and John Lyle Briggs serving as the Lions' sideline reporter.  EMCC's 2014 football radio broadcasts are also slated to be carried live by SuperTalk Mississippi (WZKR-FM 103.3) and WMOX-AM (1010) out of Meridian. 

In addition, EMCC's weekly live video-streamed football broadcasts (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emcc-football) will be available in HD by accessing EMCC's athletics website, www.EMCCAthletics.com.  An alternate audio stream of the radio broadcast will also be available at www.wfcafm108.com.