No. 12 EMCC Lions bounce back with decisive 45-7 road win over No. 17 Gulf Coast in Perkinston

PERKINSTON – The 12^th-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College scored 45 unanswered points against 17^th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to cruise to a 45-7 road win over the Bulldogs Thursday night at newly renovated A.L. May Memorial Stadium.    

At full strength following last week's valiant effort in a tough 27-25 setback at now-No. 15 Jones County, head coach Buddy Stephens' EMCC Lions answered a late first-quarter touchdown by the MGCCC Bulldogs with a dominating performance to even their record at 1-1 on the young season.  With their full allotment of 55 players available during Week 2, EMCC was able to bounce back after having to play its season opener at JCJC with an undermanned squad comprised of only true freshmen and incoming four-year transfers due to an MACJC-mandated suspension for last year's season-ending, on-the-field altercation at Mississippi Delta.

Following a turnover-riddled opening quarter of play at Gulf Coast, the home-standing Bulldogs took advantage of a third early EMCC miscue by turning a blocked punt into a quick score at the end of the first period.  Freshman Taylor Crabtree's punt was blocked by Lester Wells deep in the zone, and the Bulldogs immediately converted on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by quarterback Kalen Whitlow.

With Florida State University quarterback transfer De'Andre Johnson making his EMCC debut, the Lions responded by going on a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive capped by his 27-yard touchdown toss to Florida Atlantic transfer and Starkville product Raphael Leonard at the 13:26 mark of the second quarter.  Crabtree's point-after-touchdown attempt sailed wide right to keep the score at 7-6.

 After the Lions forced a third consecutive three-and-out following Gulf Coast's early score, the visitors drove 74 yards in nine plays, aided by a 25-yard Johnson scramble, late in the half to claim the lead for good.  With 2:23 left in the half, Johnson hit Brooks Shannon on an inside slant for a well-timed, 22-yard touchdown strike.  Johnson then found Leonard in the back of the end zone for the successful two-point pass conversion to make it 14-7 heading into the intermission.

Coming back from the break, it was EMCC's vaunted defense that set the tone for the remainder of the contest.  Following a 3-yard loss on the opening play of the second half, sophomores Diamante Pounds and TJ Jallow teamed to strip the ball away from Gulf Coast receiver Jonathan Nance and set the stage for a highlight-worthy, catch-and-run effort by EMCC All-America candidate Isaiah Wright.  From 14 yards out, the sophomore from Florence took Johnson's quick pass on the left edge, spun away from a possible tackler and then dove over an upright would-be defender for the remaining five yards onto the goal line.  Crabtree's successful PAT following Wright's athletic feat down the left sideline put the Lions up by two touchdowns early in the third quarter.

EMCC's stingy stopper unit and quick-strike offensive attack continued to put pressure on the Bulldogs.  Three minutes later after forcing another three-and-out possession, the Lions marched 61 yards on seven plays to lengthen the advantage.  On the heels of a clutch 15-yard, third-and-10 conversion pass from Johnson to Shannon, sophomore running back Jacquez Horsley, of Starkville, rushed three straight times for the remaining 25 yards, including a 6-yard stroll for the score, to extend the lead to 28-7 with 10:42 still left to play in the third quarter.

Another defensive stand by the visitors, highlighted by D.J. Henderson's 7-yard sack, paved the way for a 16-play, 84-yard EMCC scoring drive that nearly consumed the final eight minutes of the third quarter.  Mixing up the run with the pass, while featuring a 26-yard reverse by Ja'Moz Mark, the Lions put up three more points with Crabtree's 21-yard field goal to move ahead 31-7 heading into the final quarter.

Following a seventh three-and-out possession forced by EMCC's defense in the contest, freshman quarterback Vijay Miller came in to lead the Lions on a 79-yard scoring drive that took six more minutes off the clock and was capped by his 18-yard connection with Mark with 8:47 remaining.  

East Mississippi's defense stepped up one final time to finish out the scoring and cause the MACJC's 38-point mercy rule to go into effect over the game's final four minutes with a running clock.  With the Bulldogs approaching the red zone for one of the few times on the night, sophomore safety Dontavius Powell picked off backup quarterback Larry Sisson's pass around the 20-yard line and returned it 80 yards across the field to the 1-yard line.   Following a penalty on the Lions, Miller rolled right and dove into the end zone to account for the final margin.

Offensively, the Lions featured a balanced attack with 296 passing yards and 221 rushing yards on the night.  In his EMCC playing debut, Johnson completed 23-of-36 passes for 238 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.  Nine different Lion receivers caught passes, led by Shannon's five grabs for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Johnson and Wright led the way on the ground for the winners with 56 and 55 rushing yards, respectively.

Winners of 53 of their last 57 games dating back to their 2011 national championship season, the EMCC Lions will kick off their 2016 home slate and begin MACJC North Division action by playing host to the Tigers of Northeast Mississippi Community College on Thursday, Sept. 15, at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on the Scooba campus.