No. 10 EMCC Lions post biggest shutout since 2017 with 56-0 road blanking at Coahoma

CLARKSDALE – The 10^th-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College scored three touchdowns during the opening three minutes and 23 seconds of Thursday's game at Coahoma en route to posting an insurmountable 35-0 first-quarter lead and an eventual commanding 56-0 MACCC North Division road victory over the Tigers at James E. Miller Stadium.

The whitewash win over Coahoma was EMCC's 25^th career shutout victory of the Buddy Stephens coaching era along with marking the Lions' biggest shutout win since their 2017 national championship team blanked Northeast Mississippi, 59-0, in Booneville six years ago. The triumph also extended Stephens' unbeaten streak versus Coahoma to 15 consecutive meetings since taking over EMCC's head coaching duties beginning with the 2008 season.

EMCC's game-opening scoring flurry began with Ty Keyes' 64-yard scoring strike to Kanarius Johnson on the game's first play from scrimmage 14 seconds into the contest. Less than a minute later on Coahoma's second play from scrimmage during the team's initial offensive possession, EMCC safety Bakari McCall picked off CCC quarterback Jaryn Kelly and raced 22 yards to the end zone for his first of two pass interceptions on the night and second pick-six of the season.

Following a three-and-out forced by EMCC's defense, the Lions stretched the margin to three touchdowns on Jaylen Jennings' 24-yard touchdown run with 11:37 still remaining in the opening quarter.

After the teams traded three-and-out possessions, the home-standing Tigers took a chance at going for a fourth-and-one situation from their own 28-yard line. The snap from center went over quarterback Andrew Moore's head and the Lions recovered at the 13-yard line. EMCC quickly took advantage of the opportunity by going up by four touchdowns when Keyes connected with Cam Wright on an 11-yard touchdown toss at the 4:53 mark.

Coahoma finally seemed to have something going on offense following a 36-yard kickoff return by Terrick Latham and a 17-yard pass completion to Destin Wheeler in advancing to EMCC's 42-yard line. The Lions' defense responded by forcing three straight incomplete passes and a subsequent punt that was downed at their own 22-yard line.

It only took two more plays for the Lions to score again when Keyes found Wright down field for an over-the-shoulder catch and run that resulted in a 78-yard touchdown reception and lengthened the visitors' lead to 35-0 heading into the second quarter.

The second 15 minutes of play began with the Tigers managing to earn game-best field possession at the EMCC 16-yard line following a personal foul penalty. The Lions' defense once again stiffened and recorded a pair of quarterback sacks before McCall picked off his second pass interception of the game and team-leading third of the season.

Later in the opening half, East Mississippi added four-yard touchdown runs by Kiron Benjamin and Jennings while reaching the MACCC's mandated 38-point, mercy-rule margin with 5:37 remaining before halftime.

By intermission with EMCC holding a sizable 49-0 advantage on the scoreboard, the Lions had outgained Coahoma, 287-39, in total offense yards despite the Tigers having run six more plays during the opening 30 minutes of play.

Utilizing a running clock throughout the second half, the Lions capped the game's scoring with Lee Wade's 1-yard burst into the end zone two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Statistically for the game, the Lions owned a 403-111 advantage in total offense yards, while the EMCC defense limited Coahoma to just 16 net yards rushing with seven quarterback sacks. The Tigers were also held to just 1-of-12 on third-down conversions on the night.

Individually for EMCC, Keyes threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring tosses of 78 and 64 yards, on 12-of-16 passing while only seeing action in the first half before giving way to backup quarterback Jaquez Harris.

Eight different EMCC receivers combined to haul in the Lions' 15 pass completions on the evening. Wright's two scoring grabs totaled 89 receiving yards. Ty Crowell and Jaylon York led the way for the visitors with three receptions apiece.

On the ground, Jennings posted the Lions' first 100-yard rushing effort of the season with 104 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

On the heels of two straight long-distance games on the road, the reigning MACCC champion East Mississippi Lions (4-2, 3-0 MACCC North) return to Scooba for Homecoming 2023 by playing host to the ninth-ranked Northeast Mississippi Tigers (5-1, 3-0 MACCC North) on Saturday, Oct. 21. Kickoff at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field is set for 2 p.m.