Juco Football Preview

By Staff
from staff reports
Spet. 1, 2004
East Mississippi Community College's new offense may face its toughest challenge of the season in the team's season opener on Thursday.
Hinds Community College returns a wealth of talent to its defense, which helped the Eagles go 9-2 and finish as runners-up for the state championship.
"I think they've got seven starters coming back on defense," said EMCC coach Roger Carr. "They've got great speed in the secondary, and they put a lot of pressure on the football. I think their front four are as good as anybody we'll face this year."
But the Eagles won't intimidate Carr into changing his gameplan. The first-year coach said his Lions will go right after Hinds, challenging the Eagles' defenders with a wide-open passing attack.
"I told the team earlier, if there aren't a few butterflies in your stomach, there's probably something wrong with you," Carr said. "There's probably a little nervousness, but I think that's good. My focus is on how competitive we're going to be. We're prepared to play and play well."
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the EMCC campus in Scooba.
Will Bardwell
East Central at Northwest
The Warriors travel to Senatobia Thursday to take on the second-ranked Rangers of Northwest Mississippi. Kickoff at Bobby Franklin Field at Ranger Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
Northwest returns 25 lettermen, only six of whom started on last year's 8-2 team. ECCC has 11 starters back from a 2-7 squad.
"The kids are excited," ECCC head coach Terry Underwood said. "They've had a good attitude and worked real hard in preseason practice. Obviously, with it being game week, they have a little extra bounce in their step.
"We've got a very formidable opponent in Northwest at their place, so we've got a tough task in front of us.
"They lost a lot of defensive starters and will be younger on defense than they were last year. Offensively, they've got more starters back."
Expected to start at quarterback for Northwest is Lewis Kuffuor (6-0, 200), a transfer from Tennessee Tech.
Ranger defensive leaders will be sophomore cornerbacks Marcus Connor (6-0, 190) and Patrick Travis (5-9, 175).
"We're kinda vice versa," Underwood said. "Our defense has got six or seven starters back where we only have three or four on offense. Maybe it will make for a decent matchup."
Leading ECCC on offense are freshman quarterbacks Jarius Neal (6-3, 215) and Robbie Morse (6-3, 220), freshman running back Terrance McFadden (5-10, 205), and freshman wide receiver Chris Lark (6-2, 190).
"We expect to play both quarterbacks," Underwood said. "Both have been doing well. They're both very talented athletes that can run and throw.
"I think we have more weapons than we've had in several years."
Franklin expects a tough contest.
"We have to be ready because we know East Central will be," Franklin said. "They always play us tough no matter where the game is."
Questionable for the Warriors are fullback Kelvin Horne (hamstring) and kicker Ryan Gale (groin).
Northwest won last year's game 40-31 at Decatur and has taken five straight in the series.
Marty Stamper
Coahoma at Jones
The Jones County Junior College Bobcats face a stiff challenge when they host Coahoma Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Though the Tigers are coming off a 1-8 season in 2003, they have 19 starters returning on the 2004 roster. Size and experience adds up to a tough opponent, says JCJC coach Parker Dykes. Jones beat Coahoma 26-13 last season.
"They are very big across the offensive line," Dykes said. "They have plenty of talent coming back and we have our hands full."
The Bobcats have eight starters back on offense and five on defense. The Bobcats are coming off a 7-2 season that saw them win their first six games in a row. Injuries caught up with them and they dropped two South Division games to Hinds and Pearl River. But they closed the season with a 27-13 win over Gulf Coast and finished third in the division.
Leading the JCJC offensive charge will be preseason All-American running back Voncarie Owens, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. Freshman Brett Hyatt, who had an outstanding season with West Jones last year, will quarterback the Bobcats. Linebacker Anthony Kelly anchors the JCJC defense, which is currently in a rebuilding mode.
"We are looking for some of our freshmen to step up and make a contribution early on," Dykes said. "I'm pleased with our talent, but we need to develop some depth very quickly."
Steve Swogetinsky