Short-handed, top-ranked EMCC Lions fall 27-25 in valiant season-opening effort at Jones County

ELLISVILLE – Despite fielding a limited roster consisting of only newcomers, the preseason No. 1-ranked East Mississippi Community College Lions took Jones County Junior College to the final play before dropping a tough 27-25 road decision to the Bobcats in Thursday's season opener played at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field on the JCJC campus.

While serving the second game of a two-game suspension that was handed down by the MACJC office prior to last year's state playoffs for an on-the-field altercation during their 2015 season finale at Mississippi Delta, the short-handed EMCC Lions were relegated to playing without 21 returning sophomores from last year's 8-1 team for Thursday's season opener.  Despite only having the available services of his freshman players and incoming four-year transfers, ninth-year head coach Buddy Stephens' gritty, undermanned EMCC squad was potentially two second-half miscues away from pulling off an improbable task given the circumstances.

The MACJC inter-divisional season opener began slowly as a defensive battle with both teams primarily exchanging punts through the first couple of possessions.  On a third-and-12 play with the first quarter winding down, EMCC freshman quarterback Vijay Miller connected with Florida Atlantic University transfer Raphael Leonard on a 65-yard scoring bomb with less than a minute left in the opening period to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

The contest remained a battle of field possession in the second quarter with only three made field goals going up on the scoreboard.  A 23-yard effort by Jones County's Brady Farlow was answered by a pair of field goals from EMCC freshman kicker/punter Taylor Crabtree.  The Vancleave High School product was true on kicks from 31 and 35 yards over the final five minutes of the half to give the Lions a 13-3 halftime advantage.

Kick-started by an EMCC special teams miscue, the third quarter belonged to the Bobcats with three unanswered touchdowns giving the home team a double-digit lead.  On the Lions' first possession of the second half that stalled after just five plays, Crabtree mishandled a snap from center in punt formation to give Jones County the ball at the 17-yard line.  On the next play from scrimmage, University of Georgia transfer Jonathan Abram bolted 17 yards for the score to cut the deficit to 13-10 with 9:02 left in the quarter.

Following a three-and-out by EMCC, Jones County proceeded to take its first lead (17-13) of the contest after culminating a nine-play, 69-yard drive with a 23-yard scoring strike at the 3:49 mark from freshman quarterback Mason Blocker to Kendall Parham.

The Bobcats continued their momentum by forcing another three-and-out aided by one of seven sacks on EMCC's Miller for the night.  Two minutes later and for the second time in the quarter, JCJC found the end zone on its first play from scrimmage following a change of possession.  This time, Blocker hit Jeriko Morris for a 54-yard scoring toss at the 1:43 mark to make it a 24-13 contest heading into the fourth quarter.

Plagued by depth issues the entire night, the Lions showed their heart during a courageous final 15 minutes of game action.  They responded to JCJC's 21-point third quarter by promptly marching 60 yards on six plays to get back on the scoreboard.  Miller connected with Meridian's Daniel Crowell Jr. from 19 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Crabtree's PAT attempt was blocked to keep the score at 24-19 with virtually the entire final period left to play.

Implemented for their season opener primarily because of the team's limited depth, the Lions benefitted from their pooch kickoff technique with Brian Cole II recovering EMCC's subsequent kickoff at the 34-yard line.  Looking for the possible go-ahead touchdown, EMCC running back Brieton Sykes fumbled inside the 10-yard line and the ball was recovered by the Bobcats.  JCJC capitalized on that costly turnover by taking nearly seven minutes off the game clock before stretching its lead to 27-19 on Farlow's 29-yard field goal with six minutes left in regulation.

On its ensuing possession, EMCC drove 55 yards before capping the nine-play drive with a 20-yard scoring pass play from Miller to Leonard at the 2:35 mark.  The Lions went for the tie, but Miller's potential game-tying, two-point pass conversion attempt to Crowell Jr. was broken up by JCJC's Abram to preserve the lead.

With their defense making one final stand in holding Jones County to a crucial three-and-out down the stretch, the Lions took over possession 73 yards out with 50 ticks remaining in the contest.  Though EMCC managed to cross midfield on the final play of the game, time simply ran out on the Lions' comeback attempt.

The loss marked only the 12^th setback in 88 career decisions for EMCC's Stephens, whose Lions entered the game having won 52 of their last 55 contests over the prior four-year stretch that included three national championships.

Playing without suspended sophomore running backs Isaiah Wright and Jacquez Horsley, who combined for nearly 1,000 rushing yards last season, and minus the services of Florida State transfer quarterback De'Andre Johnson for this year's season opener, the Lions were offensively led by Miller.  The freshman signal-caller out of Itawamba AHS was 22-of-37 through the air for 248 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in his collegiate debut.

Miller's top targets on the night were Keys Jr., out of Collins, with six catches for 59 yards, Crowell Jr. with five grabs for 50 yards and a score, and Starkville's Leonard with four receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

With their full allotment of 55 players available for the first time, the EMCC Lions will remain out of division and stay on the road by taking on preseason the fourth-ranked Bulldogs of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Thursday (Sept. 8) in Perkinston.  Kickoff time at newly renovated A.L. May Memorial Stadium is set for 7 p.m.