EMCC Lions to bid for fourth state football title in six years following 42-21 home win over No. 5 Gulf Coast in state semis

SCOOBA – The reigning national and state champion Lions of East Mississippi Community College will seek their fourth MACJC state football championship in six years after claiming a hard-fought 42-21 home victory over fifth-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast during Saturday's state semifinals played at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field.

Having captured state titles during each of the previous three odd-numbered years (2009, 2011 and 2013) – all on their Scooba campus – head coach Buddy Stephens' 10-0 EMCC Lions will take their 22-game winning streak to Wesson for next Saturday's (Nov. 8) state championship contest against the 11^th-ranked Wolfpack of Copiah-Lincoln Community College.  Co-Lin advanced to the state title game by earning a 44-30 home triumph over Northwest Mississippi. 

Featuring the NJCAA's top two scoring defenses on the year, Saturday's semifinal-round matchup in Scooba lived up to the defensive hype during the opening quarter of play.  The game got off to an inauspicious start for the home team, as Chad Kelly's opening pass play from scrimmage was picked off by Tony Bridges.  The Lions held tough on defense by forcing an unsuccessful 25-yard field goal attempt by MGCCC's Tristan Reynolds three minutes into the contest.

Following a three-and-out possession on EMCC's next offensive series, the visitors neared the red zone once again before stalling at the 27-yard line.  The two teams continued to exchange empty possessions the remainder of the first quarter.  The scoreless opening 15 minutes extended the Lions' defensive streak to 23 consecutive scoreless quarters, while EMCC was blanked in a quarter for only the second time on the season.

However, East Mississippi's impressive defensive streak was compromised as the quarters switched.  At the end of the opening period, a three-and-out series by EMCC forced Drew White to punt out of his own end zone against a brisk wind.  The resulting short kick gave the Bulldogs excellent field position at the 24-yard line.  Five plays later, Gulf Coast went on top 7-0 on a 7-yard touchdown run by Chris Robinson.  Along with EMCC allowing its first touchdown since the first half against Northeast Mississippi back on Sept. 18, the score was also the first rushing touchdown surrendered by the Lions all season long.

EMCC's first deficit of the entire 2014 campaign grew larger shortly after Kelly threw his second interception of the opening half during the Lions' next series.  Chris Johnson's pick was cashed in seven plays later when Jason Smith connected with Tyrone Williams on a 22-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-13 play at the 9:44 mark of the second quarter.

In unfamiliar territory down 14-0, the Lions benefitted from an unsportsmanlike penalty on Gulf Coast's ensuing squib kick.  Gaining possession inside midfield, EMCC moved the needed 39 yards in just three plays with Kelly hitting Camion Patrick with a 25-yard scoring pass to make it a 14-7 contest with 8:52 remaining in the opening half.

With renewed energy on both sides of the ball, the Lions utilized the momentum gained by a subsequent three-and-out series by Gulf Coast to quickly knot the score at 14-all.  The home team promptly marched 69 yards in just three plays, capped by a 37-yard scoring strike from Kelly to Allenzae Staggers at the 7:17 mark.

East Mississippi's stellar defensive unit stepped up once again on the game's next offensive series, as sophomore safety Allen Sentimore picked off Smith's long pass to flip the field.  With Smith entering the contest without having thrown an interception on the year, the pick was Sentimore's first of two pass interceptions on the day against MGCCC's signal caller.

The Lions would conclude the first-half scoring by capitalizing on the Gulf Coast miscue.  Following a 52-yard catch-and-run from Kelly to Isaac Johnson, the tandem would team up again three plays later on a 5-yard touchdown toss at the 4:26 mark.  White's successful point-after-touchdown kick put the Lions ahead for the first time on the day at 21-14 heading into intermission.

EMCC's string of unanswered points increased to 35 following the break.  Midway through the third quarter, the Lions' defensive secondary made yet another statement.  Sentimore collected a tipped Smith pass and returned it 47 yards to the end zone for his fourth interception of the year (second of the game) and 13^th of his collegiate career.  The score marked EMCC's seventh pick-six pass interception of the year and 10^th touchdown in all scored by the Lions' defense this season.   

Late in the third quarter, Kelly reached pay dirt with his fourth different receiver on the day when Ja'Marcus Revies broke open down the middle of the field for a 43-yard touchdown reception.  The Lions' fifth touchdown of the afternoon upped the margin to 35-14 heading into the final period.

After being stymied inside the 5-yard line on two prior occasions earlier in the second half, the Bulldogs managed to interrupt EMCC's string of 35 unanswered points when Smith scored on a 10-yard keeper at the 9:43 mark of the fourth quarter. 

On EMCC's subsequent series, Preston Baker rushed six times for 41 yards on a 56-yard drive that was highlighted by a 10-yard touchdown scamper at the 7:47 mark by the sophomore back.  Baker's team-leading ninth rushing touchdown of the season capped a 71-yard rushing effort (on 13 carries) by the Starkville product.

Through the air, Kelly, a Clemson transfer by way of Buffalo, N.Y., was 17-of-30 passing for 264 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.  DJ Law, who also added 61 rushing yards on 10 attempts, pulled in a team-high four receptions for 21 yards.  Revies, Patrick and Dario Robinson all followed with three receptions apiece for the winners.