No. 10 EMCC Lions earn 43-3 bounce-back road victory at Hinds to even record at 1-1

RAYMOND – The 10^th-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College went on the road for the first time this season and came away from Raymond with a convincing 43-3 bounce-back victory over Hinds Community College during Thursday's MACCC interdivisional football action played at Gene Murphy Field at Joe Renfroe Stadium.  

While having outgained Hinds, 403-88, in total offense yards and managing to run 24 more offensive plays (72-48) than the Eagles on the evening, the EMCC Lions evened their record at 1-1 on the young season and improved to 15-4 in bounce-back contests during the Buddy Stephens coaching era (2008-present) when following in-season losses. East Mississippi fell to now-No. 6 Mississippi Gulf Coast, 34-28, during the opening week to mark just the sixth home loss (in 66 games played) for the Lions since Sullivan-Windham Field was relocated to its current site in 2011 on the Scooba campus.

Thursday's EMCC-Hinds matchup was slowed early on by four turnovers – two by each team – through the game's first eight minutes of action. After the Lions couldn't take advantage of sophomore linebacker Ny'Jadus Roberts-Holloway's 40-yard interception return of an errant Nassir Donohoo pass, EMCC got the ball right back when former University of Alabama defensive back Tony Mitchell forced and recovered Tyrell Pollard's fumble with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter. Four plays later, running back Jaylen Jennings took a direct snap from center and scored on a 3-yard run to put the visitors on top, 6-0, following a missed PAT attempt.

The teams traded empty possessions over the next 17 minutes of game action before the Lions opened up a 19-0 halftime advantage with a pair of scores late in the half. After Ty Keyes' 6-yard touchdown toss to running back Gavin Griffin at the 4:20 mark capped a seven-play, 77-yard EMCC scoring drive to make it 12-0, the Lions received an initial boost from their special teams when Ahmari Cox's block of a Wyatt Salter punt was recovered by Antreyvious Edwards in the end zone for a touchdown with 2:19 left. Hayden Houpt's PAT kick closed out the first-half scoring.

Following intermission, the Lions quickly put the contest out of reach by scoring two more touchdowns before hitting the midway point of the third quarter. Their initial drive of the second half went 64 yards on six plays and was capped by Griffin's 2-yard scoring burst up the middle. EMCC then extended its lead to 27-0 four minutes into the half when Keyes found Brendan Brown for the successful two-point conversion through the air.

EMCC's impactful special teams play struck again when Chasden Collins scooped up Hollingsworth's punt and raced 67 yards down the sideline for the score. The PAT conversion lengthened the Lions' lead to 34-0 with 8:06 remaining in the third quarter.

Aided by three defensive penalties called on EMCC during the game's next possession, the home-standing Eagles were able to deny the Lions of a possible shutout bid by moving 62 yards on nine plays to get on the board with Hollingsworth's 20-yard field goal at the 4:28 mark.

The visitors responded by marching 70 yards on 11 plays to reach the MACCC's mandated 38-point, mercy-rule margin (41-3) on reserve quarterback Cole McCarty's 4-yard touchdown pass to Cox followed by Houpt's subsequent PAT kick with 14:12 remaining on the running game clock.   

The Lions added a safety a few minutes later when Hinds' snap from center sailed into the end zone for the final two points of the contest.

East Mississippi's balanced offensive attack featured 210 rushing yards and 193 passing yards. Griffin, the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) Class 1A Mr. Football for Velma Jackson High School as a prep senior, earned the start for the Lions in his second collegiate game and finished with 101 rushing yards on 11 attempts while also scoring two touchdowns in the contest.

Through the air, EMCC's three quarterbacks (Keyes, McCarty & Mississippi Gulf Coast CC transfer Carter Hankins) combined on 20-of-33 passing for 193 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Nine different Lion players caught at least one pass in the victory, led by Jaylon York's five receptions for 33 yards.

The EMCC Lions are back on the road to open MACCC North Division play on Thursday (Sept. 12) by taking on the Rangers of Northwest Mississippi Community College. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Ranger Stadium at Bobby Franklin Field in Senatobia.