East Miss continues long slide

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Oct. 22, 2003
SCOOBA Hard-luck times continue to fall on the East Mississippi Community College football team.
The Lions (2-5) lost their fourth straight game of the season last Saturday to the Northwest Community College Rangers by a final of 31-14. EMCC started the year with a 2-1 mark.
EMCC took an early 7-0 lead in its contest against Northwest, but the Lions gave up two unanswered touchdowns to fall behind 14-7.
The two squads exchanged scores giving the Rangers a 21-14 advantage entering the fourth quarter, but Northwest put the game away with an early field goal and a touchdown in the fourth.
What may hurt the Lions even more than penalties in their next game is the team's short turnaround after Saturday's defeat.
EMCC will play its final home game of the season at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Coahoma Community College Tigers.
Because of the short practice week the Lions will have little time to prepare for one of the most diverse offenses in junior college football.
Coahoma uses multiple looks from three to four to five wide receiver sets and will switch from none to one to two back sets throughout the course of a game.
EMCC got a little help back last week on the defensive side of the ball with the return of linebacker Renuel Green.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pound McCalla, Ala., native had missed the Lions last two games with an infected leg stemming from a spider bite.
But even with Green back in the lineup, the Lions defense is still hurting and many players have been unable to practice prior to games.
The Tigers defense doesn't offer as many different looks as its offensive counterparts, but Goode said that doesn't make the opposition's defense any less of a threat.
Coahoma primarily plays in a 4-3 scheme and employs some cover three and man coverage in the secondary.
With the limited time between games, the Lions will not make a lot changes in their offense for the Tigers.
The one thing EMCC will most likely have to change is which player will hike the ball to the quarterback.
EMCC only has two games left on its schedule entering Thursday, the Lions wrap up their season against Hinds Community College on Oct. 30.
The team does not have a chance to post a winning record, but Goode said there is still plenty for EMCC to play for in the final two weeks.