EMCC Lions set to wrap up non-division football slate Thursday at Pearl River
The Lions of East Mississippi Community College are set to close out the non-division portion of their football schedule by traveling to Poplarville to take on MACCC South Division foe Pearl River Community College during Thursday’s conference gridiron action. Kickoff for the EMCC-PRCC interdivisional matchup is set for 7 p.m. at Dobie Holden Stadium on the Pearl River campus.
October 16, 2024
SCOOBA – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College are set to close out the non-division portion of their football schedule by traveling to Poplarville to take on MACCC South Division foe Pearl River Community College during Thursday's conference gridiron action. Kickoff for the EMCC-PRCC interdivisional matchup is set for 7 p.m. at Dobie Holden Stadium on the Pearl River campus.
The EMCC Lions enter the final third of the nine-game MACCC regular-season slate with break-even records of 3-3 overall and 2-2 in division play after scoring a combined total of 111 points during recent victories over Northeast Mississippi (49-21 last week in Booneville) and Coahoma (62-14 three weeks ago on EMCC's Homecoming). This marked EMCC's highest total scoring output in consecutive games since the Lions posted back-to-back home wins over Jones (47-23) and Holmes (65-17) last season.
The Lions' current two-game win streak was preceded this season by their slowest four-game start (1-3) in 14 years after having sandwiched a decisive 43-3 road win over Hinds between a 2024 season-opening 34-28 home setback to now-No. 7 Mississippi Gulf Coast and consecutive losses at Northwest Mississippi (33-14) and at home to Itawamba (36-34), which are presently ranked eighth and 14th respectively, in this week's NJCAA Division I football poll.
Most recently, the visiting Lions jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead four minutes into last week's visit to Northeast Mississippi on the way to taking a commanding 42-7 halftime advantage and eventual 28-point road victory over the Tigers. EMCC's first-half domination over Northeast last week was evident in the halftime stats, with the Lions owning a sizeable 397-140 advantage in total offense yards, including a 287-91 margin in passing yardage. The visitors also held a significant 23-7 lead in first downs during the opening half.
Statistically on the year, East Mississippi currently ranks ninth nationally in scoring average (38.3 ppg), just five-tenths of a point behind MACCC team scoring leader Holmes (38.8). Offensively, the Lions also stand fifth among NJCAA Division I team leaders in both total offense (447.8 yds/gm) and passing yardage (268.0 yds/gm). In addition, EMCC ranks 11th nationally with an average of 179.8 rushing yards per contest.
Individually for the Lions, reigning NJCAA Division I Offensive Player of the Year Ty Keyes presently ranks sixth nationally in both passing yards per game (221.2) and touchdowns thrown (11) this season. The former two-time Mississippi Gatorade Football Player of the Year and three-time Class 2A Mr. Football by the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) has completed 118-of-192 passes (61.5%) for 1,327 yards on the year. The Taylorsville High School product is coming off last week's performance at Northeast in which he produced 285 yards of total offense and three touchdowns by halftime on 17-of-24 passing for 263 yards and two touchdowns through the air along with 22 rushing yards and a score on three attempts.
Keyes' top target this season continues to be sophomore wide receiver Jaylon York, who currently sits second in NJCAA Division I football with 36 catches on the year. The Starkville High School product also ranks sixth nationally with an average of 75.0 receiving yards per outing.
Guided by fifth-year head football coach and PRCC alum Sean Smith, the Wildcats of Pearl River Community College currently own .500 marks of 3-3 in overall play and 2-2 in MACCC South Division action on the year. Most recently, Pearl River dropped a 24-17 Homecoming decision to Copiah-Lincoln last Thursday in Poplarville. PRCC quarterback Ian Gonzalez claimed MACCC Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 238 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries against the Wolves in his first career start for the Wildcats. He also went 8-for-17 through the air for 67 yards and a score versus Co-Lin. Pearl River's football coaching staff features first-year offensive coordinator David Boykin, who previously spent five seasons (2017-21) as EMCC's offensive coordinator that included back-to-back national and conference championships in 2017 and 2018.
Sporting an overall record of 146-27 (.844) in his 17th year as EMCC's head football coach, including a 6-1 career mark versus Pearl River (3-0 in Poplarville & 3-1 in Scooba), Buddy Stephens previously spent seven seasons (2001-07) as an assistant coach at PRCC before being hired as EMCC's head coach in December 2007. While Stephens was on staff at his alma mater, the Wildcats posted a composite record of 60-12 (.833) that included a national championship in 2004 and four consecutive conference titles (2003-06). He was also a two-year offensive lineman at Pearl River before completing his collegiate playing career at Delta State University.
East Mississippi's most recent visit to Poplarville for football action (Sept. 6, 2018) resulted in a 59-10 victory over Pearl River after the Lions scored 38 unanswered points to overcome an early deficit and give Stephens his 100th career collegiate coaching win. The following year in Scooba (Sept. 5, 2019), the Lions claimed a 49-15 home win over the visiting Wildcats in the most recent gridiron meeting between the two interdivisional foes.
Thursday's EMCC-PRCC contest will be broadcast live by WFCA-FM (107.9), out of French Camp, with Jason Crowder and Glen Beard slated to provide the play-by-play and color commentary, respectively. The game's live-streamed audio will also be carried by EMCC's campus radio station, WGTC-FM (92.7), originating from the Golden Triangle campus in Mayhew. Along with EMCC's weekly live video-streamed football broadcasts being available in HD at emcclive.com, alternate audio streams of the Lions' radio broadcasts throughout the football season will also be accessible via wfca.fm.