No. 8 EMCC Lions drop storm-delayed divisional opener, 33-14, at Northwest Mississippi

SENATOBIA – Slowed by five turnovers, the eighth-ranked Lions of East Mississippi Community College dropped a 33-14 road decision to Northwest Mississippi in their storm-delayed MACCC North Division opener played Saturday night at Bobby Franklin Field.

In a contest delayed two days by the impacts of Hurricane Francine, the divisional opener featured a statistical edge by the Lions in both total offense yards (365-267) and first downs (26-16). However, the home-standing Rangers took advantage of four interceptions thrown by EMCC and a first-quarter fumble that opened the game's scoring to claim the 19-point victory.

After the teams traded punts to begin the contest, the Lions' nine-play, 59-yard drive was stymied when Jerry Wall III ran Ty Keyes' fumble back 68 yards for a touchdown eight minutes into the game.

The visitors responded by marching 68 yards on eight plays during a four-minute drive that resulted in Gavin Griffin's 3-yard scoring burst and knotted the score at 7-7 with just under three minutes left in the first quarter.

The Rangers went back ahead to stay when running back D'mariun Perteet capped a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive with a 29-yard touchdown run at the 11:47 mark of the second quarter.

After the Lions couldn't take advantage of Brandon Short's interception of a Zach Wilcke pass attempt at EMCC's 1-yard line, Northwest benefitted from the visitors' precarious starting field position by tackling reserve quarterback Cole McCarty in the end zone for a safety to extend the margin to 16-7 with three minutes left to play in the half.

Following a Northwest three-and-out forced by the EMCC defense, the Lions' attempt at getting back on the scoreboard in the opening half was denied when McCarty's aerial was picked off by Fredd Adams for a touchback with 27 seconds left on the game clock. Not only did the turnover thwart EMCC's potential scoring drive of 62 yards on seven plays heading into the half, the interception marked the first of four picks by Adams on the evening.

The lone score of the third quarter followed Adams' interception of a Keyes pass attempt five minutes into the quarter. The Rangers capitalized on the turnover with Perteet's 20-yard touchdown scamper to lengthen their lead to 23-7 at the 7:08 mark.

After the fourth quarter began with a three-and-out by EMCC's offense, Northwest methodically took nearly six minutes off the game clock by embarking on an 11-play drive that resulted in Hayden Wolfe's 44-yard made field goal with 6:42 remaining in the contest.

The ultimate dagger by Northwest then came on the game's next possession when Adams tied a single-game school standard with his fourth interception of the night. The sophomore from Tupelo picked off McCarty for the third time on his way to a 59-yard pick-six that stretched the Rangers' margin to 26 points (33-7) with just under five minutes left in the game.

The Lions managed to produce the game's final points on John Peterson's 8-yard scoring run that capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive at the 1:22 mark.

With two defeats through the year's first three games for the first time since starting 0-3 during their 5-5 season in 2010, the Lions fell for just the second time in 11 road decisions against Northwest since 17^th-year head coach Buddy Stephens took over EMCC's football helm beginning with the 2008 campaign.

Statistically for the visitors, Keyes (15-of-28 for 118 yards & 1 INT) and McCarty (10-of-17 for 109 yards & 3 INTs) combined for 25-of-45 passing for 227 yards against the Rangers. McCarty, a transfer from Kennesaw State, was EMCC's leading rusher in the contest with 63 yards on the ground in nine attempts. Jaylon York was the tandem's top target on the night with eight catches for 75 receiving yards.

The 1-2 EMCC Lions will look to again bounce back this season with an upcoming two-game home stand prior to the MACCC's scheduled Oct. 3 open date across the conference. After playing host to Itawamba this coming Thursday (Sept. 19 @ 7 p.m.), East Mississippi will then entertain Coahoma for homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 28 (2 p.m.) at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus.