EMCC Lions upended 32-28 in non-division road play by Pearl River’s late-game heroics

POPLARVILLE – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College fell below the .500 mark after dropping a 32-28 non-division road decision to MACCC South Division foe Pearl River during Thursday's conference football action played at PRCC's Dobie Holden Stadium.

The home-standing Wildcats scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns during the interdivisional game's final five minutes of play to overcome a 25-12 halftime deficit and pull out the narrow four-point victory. Pearl River improved to 4-3 overall on the season, while the Lions dropped to 3-4 after having their two-game win streak snapped.

The Wildcats opened the game's scoring by taking advantage of the first of two costly fumbles by the visitors in the contest. On EMCC's opening drive of the game, quarterback Ty Keyes was hit on a fourth-and-seven play and the fumble was recovered by Pearl River. PRCC converted the turnover into a five-play, 52-yard scoring drive that was capped by Shadamien Williamson's 14-yard touchdown run at the 9:00 mark. The Wildcats led, 6-0, following the first of five missed extra-point kick attempts on the night between the two teams.

Aided by Keyes' 25-yard pass completion to running back Gavin Griffin on a fourth-and-nine conversion, the Lions answered with a 13-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in the two players connecting on a 12-yard scoring pass. Hayden Houpt's successful PAT kick put the Lions on top, 7-6, with 4:37 remaining in the opening quarter.

Pearl River responded with a lengthy drive of its own, marching 70 yards on 11 plays on the way to reclaiming the lead (12-7) on quarterback Kabe Barnett's 6-yard scoring keeper within the first minute of the second quarter.

The Lions seemed to then take control of the game's momentum by scoring 18 unanswered points and forcing three second-quarter PRCC punts, including a pair of three-and-outs, during the remainder of the opening half. On the heels of a seven-play, 71-yard scoring drive that was capped by Keyes' 27-yard touchdown toss to Jaylon York at the 11:45 mark to put EMCC back in front, the visitors ultimately lengthened their halftime lead to two scores (25-12) on Jaylen Jennings' 11-yard scoring run at the 6:28 mark followed by Keyes' 35-yard scoring pass to Ahmari Cox with 3:40 left before intermission.

Pearl River's second-half comeback began late in the third quarter when the Lions couldn't take advantage of a recovered PRCC fumble deep in their own territory. On a subsequent third-and-10 attempt from EMCC's 22-yard line, Keyes fumbled while being sacked and the loose ball was recovered by the Wildcats' Chavarius Garrett and returned 15 yards for the score. Despite another failed PAT kick attempt, Pearl River had trimmed the margin to 25-18 heading to the fourth quarter.

The final 15 minutes of play began with the Lions taking more than six minutes off the game clock in reclaiming a two-score advantage. However, the 13-play, 76-yard drive was halted inside the 10-yard line after Keyes' 20-yard keeper on a fourth-and-eight conversion from the 29-yard line. EMCC settled for Houpt's 22-yard field goal with 8:23 remaining in regulation to move ahead, 28-18.

The Wildcats' clutch offense responded by moving 75 yards on just six plays, highlighted by Barnett's 44-yard scoring connection with Javonta Caldwell at the 4:50 mark. Morgan Craft's all-important PAT try was good to trim the margin to three points.

Pearl River's defense then rose to the occasion by forcing EMCC into a three-and-out to set up the go-ahead drive. Barnett proceeded to engineer a five-play, 80-yard scoring drive that was capped by his game-winning, 42-yard scoring pass to Martavious Reed with just over a minute remaining in the contest. Craft's second straight timely PAT conversion bumped PRCC's margin to four points at 32-28.

The Wildcats protected their lead by forcing EMCC into a game-ending, three-and-out possession during the game's final minute.

The two teams combined for 882 yards of total offense and 42 total first downs, with East Mississippi owning slim statistical leads of 493-389 and 22-20, respectively.

For East Mississippi, Keyes was 19-of-45 passing for 290 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The reigning NJCAA Division I Offensive Player of the Year also ran for 71 yards on 13 attempts to rank as the Lions' second-leading rusher in the game behind Jennings' game-high 84 rushing yards.

York was again EMCC's leading receiver in the contest with four catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Head coach Buddy Stephens' EMCC Lions (3-4, 2-2 MACCC North) will play host to the Trojans of Mississippi Delta on Thursday (Oct. 24) in their regular-season home finale. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field.

Along with being recognized during halftime festivities of Thursday's home contact against MDCC, East Mississippi Community College's Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will also be honored during a 4 p.m. pre-game reception to be held at the F.R. Young Student Union Center on the Scooba campus. This year's five-member EMCC Sports Hall of Fame induction class consists of retired education administrator/basketball coach Dr. Ed Davis, former football offensive lineman Thurman M. (Buddy) Lowe Jr., former women's basketball player Deborah Stancil, standout rodeo cowboy Marcus Theriot, and former baseball outfielder Kent Williams.