EMCC Homecoming 2015 pits sixth-ranked Lions with division foe Itawamba CC Saturday afternoon in Scooba

SCOOBA – Marking the midway point of the MACJC football regular season, the sixth-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College will entertain division rival Itawamba Community College Saturday afternoon as part of EMCC's homecoming festivities on the Scooba campus.  Kickoff for Saturday's EMCC-ICC gridiron clash is set for 2 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field. 

Along with the introduction of EMCC's 2015 homecoming queen and her court, halftime festivities of the Lions' homecoming contest against the ICC Indians will also feature the recognition of recently retired EMCC President Dr. Rick Young as the 2015 recipient of the school's Alumnus of the Year and Distinguished Service Award honors.  Also to be recognized at halftime will be EMCC's 2015 Sports Hall of Fame induction class comprised of Wayne "Bugar" Bailey, Milford Brown, James Cantrell, George Cummings, Tony McCullough, Virgil Seay, Louie Spinks and Syd Thweatt Jr.

In addition, during Saturday's EMCC-ICC contest, returning members of East Mississippi's 1965 state championship baseball team will be recognized as part of their 50-year reunion. 

Coach Buddy Stephens' EMCC Lions are 3-1 overall on the year and 2-0 in MACJC North Division play after rebounding from their 31-24 overtime setback at now-No. 1 Copiah-Lincoln three weeks ago with solid division victories over Coahoma (69-0) and most recently at Northeast Mississippi (56-7).  The reigning two-time national champions had extended their winning streak to 25 consecutive games with a 69-20 season-opening home triumph over Southwest Mississippi before falling at Co-Lin back on Sept. 3.

Now 47-3 overall with three NJCAA championships dating back to the 2011 season when their current football facility opened, the Lions are 25-1 collectively at the "new" Sullivan-Windham Field.  Including a pair of home wins during the team's final season at the previous field location on the Scooba campus, EMCC owns a current streak of 22 consecutive regular-season home victories.  The Lions' lone home setback at their current 5,000-seat facility was a last-second 47-46 loss to Copiah-Lincoln during the 2012 MACJC State Semifinals.

Winners of six MACJC North Division regular-season football titles during Stephens' seven-plus seasons at the EMCC helm, the Lions own an overall record of 41-3 against division opponents spanning back to the 2008 campaign.  East Mississippi has won 14 straight division contests since having its prior 20-game overall win string snapped with a 24-23 defeat at Itawamba during the 2012 regular-season finale.

Guided by second-year head football coach Sean Cannon, the Indians of Itawamba Community College are 2-2 overall and 1-1 in division play for the season.  ICC sandwiched consecutive victories over Jones County (21-20) and Holmes (40-14) between bookend home setbacks to NJCAA Top 10 foes Copiah-Lincoln (26-14) to open the season and most recently to Northwest Mississippi (31-24).  

EMCC's Stephens owns a 6-1 career record versus Itawamba, including a 2-0 home mark, 3-1 record in Fulton and a 40-34 neutral-site victory over the Indians at West Point High School in 2008.  Most recently, the Lions shut out ICC, 51-0, last season in Fulton and prevailed by a 59-13 tally two years ago in Scooba.

East Mississippi is undefeated in homecoming contests played on the Scooba campus under Stephens' guidance.  Prior MACJC North Division homecoming opponents for EMCC have included Coahoma in both 2013 (90-7) and 2008 (47-20), Holmes in 2012 (35-0), Mississippi Delta in 2011 (54-0) and Northeast Mississippi in 2009 (48-10).  The Lions also knocked off MACJC South Division foes during homecoming matchups last year (55-0 over Jones County) as well as in 2010 (42-36 over Pearl River).                

Saturday's EMCC-ICC homecoming contest will be broadcast live by WFCA-FM (107.9), out of French Camp, with Jason Crowder and Charlie Winfield slated to call the play-by-play action and Glen Beard set to serve as the Lions' sideline reporter.  EMCC's 2015 football radio broadcasts will also be carried live by SuperTalk Mississippi (WZKR-FM 103.3) out of Meridian as well as through EMCC's new radio station, WGTC-FM (92.7), originating from the Golden Triangle campus in Mayhew.

In addition, EMCC's weekly live video-streamed football broadcasts are available in HD at www.EMCCathletics.com/live.  Alternate audio streams of the radio broadcasts are also available at www.wfcafm108.com.  Fans are also encouraged to follow EMCC Athletics through the college's athletics website, www.EMCCathletics.com, and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@EMCCathletics) via the school's social media hub at www.EMCCathletics.com/Social-Media-Hub. 

For additional information about EMCC's 2015 Homecoming Weekend festivities on the Scooba campus, please visit the school's main website at www.eastms.edu.