EMCC’s Dakota Allen and Taylor Crabtree garner MACJC Player of the Week honors

SCOOBA – For their efforts in last week's high-scoring road victory over Holmes, East Mississippi Community College linebacker Dakota Allen and kicker/punter Taylor Crabtree have earned MACJC Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors, respectively.

During last Thursday's offensive showcase in Goodman that featured 112 total points scored, nearly 1,200 yards of total offense and 54 first downs, EMCC's Allen was credited with 14 total tackles (7 solos & 7 assists) against Holmes.  The Texas Tech transfer teamed with EMCC sophomore lineman D.J. Henderson on a pair of quarterback sacks that totaled 18 yards.  Ranked among the Top 10 nationally averaging an MACJC-leading 11.8 tackles per game for the year, Allen also added another tackle for loss and a pass breakup against the Bulldogs.

Allen, from Humble, Texas, becomes EMCC's second two-time MACJC Player of the Week recipient this season, joining Florida State transfer quarterback De'Andre Johnson.  Allen also garnered state-wide defensive honors after totaling a season-high 16 tackles with an interception and a pass breakup during the Lions' 27-25 season-opening loss at Jones County.

Crabtree, who handles the Lions' placekicking, kickoff and punting duties, connected on all nine of his point-after-touchdown attempts in the Holmes game.  The freshman out of Vancleave High School also averaged 56.6 yards on 10 kickoffs as well as 41.5 yards on two punts against the Bulldogs.

For the season, Crabtree is tied for third nationally among NJCAA kickers with a team-leading 50 total points scored.  Along with having hit on all five of his field goal attempts on the year, he has successfully converted on 35-of-39 PATs through the first six games.  

EMCC's Allen and Crabtree, along with MACJC Offensive Player of the Week recipient Neil McLaurin of Southwest Mississippi, are now nominated for national awards from the NJCAA.

Coach Buddy Stephens' fourth-ranked EMCC Lions (5-1, 4-0) continue preparations for Saturday's Homecoming matchup against reigning national champion and top-ranked Northwest Mississippi (6-0, 4-0).  With major postseason implications possibly on the line, Saturday's EMCC-Northwest MACJC North Division showdown is set for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus.