Third consecutive shutout extends top-ranked EMCC's win streak to 19 with 49-0 home blanking of Holmes

SCOOBA – The No. 1-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College moved another step closer to securing a fourth straight MACJC North Division football title by blanking visiting Holmes Community College, 49-0, Thursday evening at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus.

With their 19^th consecutive victory, including a current streak of three straight shutouts, dating back to last year's NJCAA national championship season, the EMCC Lions improved to 7-0 overall on the year and 4-0 in division play.  An East Mississippi win at second-place Northwest Mississippi (3-4, 3-1) this coming Thursday (Oct. 16) would also clinch the Lions' sixth division title under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Buddy Stephens.

Bouncing back after a short week of preparation following last Saturday's 55-0 homecoming triumph over then-No. 12 Jones County, the Lions were seemingly clicking on all cylinders to kick off the contest by scoring on their first two offensive possessions against the visiting Bulldogs.  Sophomore running back Preston Baker, of Starkville, followed a 1-yard scoring plunge at the 12:10 mark with a 9-yard touchdown grab on a swing pass from Chad Kelly four minutes later to quickly put the home team ahead, 14-0, midway through the opening quarter.

After the fast start, however, EMCC's usually efficient offense uncharacteristically failed to produce points on four successive possessions.  Fortunately, the Lions' stout defensive unit held Holmes' triple-option scheme in check for the most part during a majority of the contest.

In fact midway through the second quarter, the visitors' unique offensive formation actually contributed to getting EMCC back on track offensively.  Following successive negative-yardage plays with Holmes quarterback Jalen Thomas first losing ground by mishandling a pitch attempt and then getting sacked, the Bulldogs were forced to punt deep in their own territory.  Dre Massey fielded a bad snap and was chased out of bounds at the 9-yard line.  On the next play from scrimmage, Kelly connected with Allenzae Staggers to make the score 21-0 with 5:19 remaining in the half.      

Another clutch defensive stand by EMCC's stingy stopper squad gave the home team another scoring opportunity as the first half drew to a close.  The Lions' two-minute drill produced a 12-play, 76-yard drive that culminated with Kelly hitting freshman receiver Desmond Goss for a 15-yard scoring strike with 21.2 seconds left to extend the margin to 28-0 going into intermission.

Coming out of the break, it was East Mississippi's game-changing defense that set the tone for the rest of the contest.  On the first possession of the half, the Lions stripped the Holmes ball carrier and sophomore linebacker William Lloyd was the recipient of a 13-yard scoop and score at the 13:33 mark.  Lloyd's fumble recovery and resulting score marked the Lions' seventh touchdown of the year from their defensive and special teams units, including five pick-six pass interceptions and a recovered blocked punt in the end zone.               

With Goss, from Louisville, having scored his first collegiate touchdown in the opening half, Lloyd's point-producing fumble recovery to start the second stanza marked the 17^th different EMCC player to have reached the end zone this season.

On Holmes' next possession, EMCC's defense came up big once again by stopping the visitors on a fourth-and-1 attempt to give the Lions excellent field position just past midfield.  One minute and three plays later, Kelly accounted for his fourth score of the game with his third rushing touchdown of the year coming on a tough 13-yard run to lengthen the lead to 42-0 with 10:30 still left in the third quarter.  For the sixth time in seven games this season, East Mississippi went on to play most of the second half utilizing a running clock as a result of the MACJC's newly implemented 38-point mercy rule.

The game's final score was also facilitated by EMCC's ball-hawking defensive unit, as freshman defensive end Caleb Grant caused and recovered Thomas' fourth-quarter fumble to give the Lions another scoring opportunity.  Freshman quarterback Wyatt Roberts assumed the signal-calling duties and proceeded to direct the Lions on a nine-play, 57-yard drive that was capped by the Louisville product connecting with Camion Patrick on a 13-yard touchdown reception with around seven minutes remaining on the game clock.

Statistically, EMCC's Kelly threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-39 passing with one interception.  The Clemson transfer by way of Buffalo, N.Y., was also the Lions' leading rusher on the night with 41 yards and a score on four carries.  Kelly's main recipient through the air was sophomore Brandon Acker, who had seven catches for 164 yards.     

Defensively in registering their third shutout in as many years over Holmes (55-0 last season and 35-0 two years ago), the Lions did not allow a pass completion in four attempts and limited the Bulldogs' pesky ground attack to just 97 rushing yards on 50 carries.    

Winners of 39 of their last 41 outings spanning back to their 2011 NJCAA national championship campaign, including a dozen shutouts during that stretch, the EMCC Lions will close out their regular-season road slate with next Thursday's key division matchup against Northwest Mississippi in Senatobia followed by their Oct. 23 home finale against Mississippi Delta.