No. 6 EMCC Lions close out three-game home stand with 42-17 setback to No. 4 Gulf Coast

SCOOBA – The sixth-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College couldn't overcome an early 14-0 deficit to No. 4 Mississippi Gulf Coast on the way to dropping a 42-17 home decision to the visiting Bulldogs during Thursday's MACCC inter-divisional contest played at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field.

The opening seven minutes of the first quarter of play set the tone for this top-10 gridiron showdown. During the game's first four possessions, Gulf Coast forced EMCC into consecutive three-and-outs and followed with scoring drives of 54 and 58 yards. Scoring tosses from Eli Anderson to Aydan Morgan of 16 yards and Jay Dupree of 53 yards gave the visitors a quick two-touchdown advantage by the 7:50 mark of the opening quarter.

The Lions got on the board late in the quarter when two-time reigning MACCC Offensive Player of the Week Ty Keyes scored from 3 yards out on a quarterback keeper with 2:12 remaining in the quarter. The 14-7 deficit was as close as EMCC would get the rest of the night.

Following five consecutive empty possessions between the two teams in the second quarter, the Bulldogs capitalized on Kionte Curry's interception of a Keyes pass by marching 68 yards on 10 plays to move ahead, 21-7, on Anderson's 17-yard touchdown toss to Dupree at the 3:54 mark. The Lions managed to keep the margin at 14 points heading to the halftime break.

Coming out of intermission, the home-standing reigning MACCC champions gained some momentum by forcing and recovering Trey Hall's fumble during his second-half kickoff return. After gaining first-and-10 possession at MGCCC's 11-yard line, however, the Lions had to settle for Cole Arthur's 27-yard field goal that made it a 21-10 contest with 13:17 remaining in the third quarter.

After the teams exchanged punts, Gulf Coast's Anderson and Dupree made their third scoring connection of the game – this time for 61 yards – to increase the Bulldogs' advantage to 28-10 with 10:14 left in the quarter.

East Mississippi responded again to cut the deficit back to 11 points (28-17) when Keyes found Marcus Harris on a 41-yard catch and run to cap a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive midway through the quarter.

The Lions then appeared to have grabbed some second-half momentum once again during the quarter transition by making a timely defensive stand. After keeping the Bulldogs out of the end zone following a first-and-goal opportunity from EMCC's 8-yard line, Lions defensive back Tyrane Stewart blocked Gabriel Showalter's 21-yard field goal attempt to keep it an 11-point contest.

      Gulf Coast's defense was up to the task, however, keeping the Lions off the scoreboard during the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Anderson and the Bulldogs' offense put the game away with two more scores during a four-minute stretch midway through the quarter. Anderson, who transferred to MGCCC following a standout freshman season in Scooba a year ago, scored on a 9-yard keeper to the right front corner of the end zone. The Neshoba Central High School product then connected with Dayan Bilbo on a 13-yard touchdown toss at the 5:08 mark. Anderson's fifth scoring pass of the evening provided the game's final 25-point margin.

Statistically for East Mississippi, Keyes was limited to 15-of-40 passing for 168 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. Cam Wright led the Lions with six receptions for 96 yards, while Kiron Benjamin was EMCC's leading rusher with 41 yards on the ground in 13 attempts.

Head coach Buddy Stephens' EMCC Lions (2-2, 1-0 MACCC North) resume MACCC North Division play on Thursday, Oct. 5, by heading to Senatobia to take on the 12^th-ranked Northwest Mississippi Rangers in a rematch of last year's conference championship game won by the Lions, 36-28, in Senatobia.