No. 11 EMCC takes upper hand in MACCC North with 38-31 Homecoming win over No. 15 Northeast

SCOOBA – The 11^th-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College grabbed the upper hand in the MACCC North Division football standings by earning a 38-31 Homecoming victory over No. 15 Northeast Mississippi during Saturday's conference action played at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus.

EMCC and Northeast entered the contest both unbeaten in division play this season. With their victory over the Tigers, the Lions improved to 5-2 overall, 4-0 in the MACCC North, and can now secure at least a share of their 11^th division championship during the Buddy Stephens coaching era (since 2008) with a road win over Itawamba on Thursday (Oct. 26). Division foes Northeast and Northwest – both now 3-1 in division play with losses to EMCC – will face each other during the final week of the regular season in Senatobia. EMCC will play host to Mississippi Delta to close out regular-season play on Nov. 2.

The visiting Tigers were the benefactors of an EMCC turnover following the Lions' game-opening, 11-play drive that ended with Ty Keyes' pass being intercepted in the end zone by Mykel Randall. Northeast proceeded to take advantage of the miscue and produced the game's first score on Cameron Dill's 11-yard touchdown toss to Gunter Scott at the 7:36 mark.

The Lions responded by scoring 17 unanswered points, beginning with Cole Arthur's 28-yard field goal at the 4:47 mark after their second straight 11-play drive stalled at the NEMCC 11-yard line.

Following a three-and-out by Northeast, EMCC efficiently drove 83 yards on 14 plays, including 8-of-8 conversions through the air, to move ahead, 10-7, on Keyes' 1-yard keeper into the end zone with 12:46 remaining in the second quarter.

On their next offensive possession, the Lions increased their lead to 17-7 on Marcus Harris' 22-yard catch and run down the left sideline at the 7:53 mark.

The Tigers made their first of two comeback attempts in the contest by marching 74 yards in 15 plays during the final drive of the opening half to make it a three-point game (17-14). Northeast's scoring drive consumed more than seven minutes on the game clock and was capped by Dill's 1-yard run to pay dirt with 40 seconds left in the half.

After holding the visitors to a three-and-out coming out of the break, the Lions scored their first of two third-quarter touchdowns on Jaylen Jennings' 5-yard scoring burst to move ahead by two scores (24-14) at the 11:33 mark.

Aided by a costly facemask penalty called on EMCC, the Tigers answered on their next possession with Guy Gillespie's 49-yard field goal that made it a 24-17 contest with 9:04 remaining in the quarter.

The Lions were hurt again by a pair of 15-yard penalties on Northeast's next offensive possession, but EMCC linebacker Tyrese Hopkins came up big by batting down Dill's fourth-and-3 pass attempt from EMCC's 36-yard line.

Following an exchange of three-and-outs toward the end of the third quarter, Keyes put EMCC on top, 31-17, by scrambling for an 18-yard touchdown run up the middle with 13 seconds left in the period.

After holding the Tigers to another three-and-out to begin the final quarter of play, the Lions opened up their largest lead of the game (38-17) with 12:24 left in the contest when Jennings bolted 45 yards to the end zone for his second score of the afternoon.

With EMCC ahead by three scores, Northeast gained some momentum after intercepting Keyes for the second time on the day with nine minutes remaining. The Tigers again cashed in on the turnover by taking just four plays and only 1:33 off the game clock before Dill's 3-yard touchdown toss to Scott cut the deficit to 38-24 midway through the quarter.

The visitors from Booneville made things interesting during the final four minutes of the contest. Northeast marched 80 yards on 13 plays to make it a one-score game (38-31) on Dill's 9-yard scoring pass to Antonio Kennedy on a fourth-and-goal play with 21 ticks left on the game clock. On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers seemingly recovered their onside kick but were called for illegal touching when the ball didn't travel the necessary 10 yards.

Statistically for the winners, Keyes completed 25-of-39 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown, while also picking up 51 yards and a pair of scores on the ground in eight attempts. The Lions had six players with multiple receptions on the afternoon, led by Raymon Blackmon (7-83) and Cam Wright (5-65) with a combined 12 catches and 148 receiving yards between them.

Jennings finished with a game-high 90 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 45-yarder, on 10 carries. Sophomore Kiron Benjamin added 66 yards in 13 rushing attempts.

On a short week, the East Mississippi Lions, 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the MACCC North, travel to Fulton to take on the Indians of Itawamba Community College on Thursday (Oct. 26). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at ICC's Eaton Field.