Lions fall hard in opener

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Sept. 3, 2004
SCOOBA Roger Carr had a tough first day on the job.
East Mississippi Community College scored a touchdown on its opening possession before surrendering 53 unanswered points in a 53-7 loss to Hinds Community College on Thursday night, spoiling Carr's head coaching debut with the Lions.
East Mississippi marched down the field in impressive fashion on its opening drive, with sophomore running back Jarris Williams plunging into the end zone from one yard out for a 7-0 Lions' lead.
But after Williams' touchdown, the only time East Mississippi came close to the goal line was when it was forced into defending its own. Hinds running back Greg Clark scored the first of his two touchdowns midway through the first quarter to tie the game at seven, and the Eagles took the lead for good early in the second quarter on Martise Quiller's two-yard touchdown run.
After a safety, the Lions trailed 16-7 in the second quarter when they came closest to trimming the Eagles' lead. After recovering a Hinds fumble on the East Mississippi 42-yard line, Williams ripped through the Hinds defensive front for a 22-yard gain.
On the next play, EMCC running back Cordae Campbell fumbled, and the Eagles regained possession.
The Lions made their best defensive stand with less than a minute left before halftime. Backed against their own goal line, East Mississippi defensive back Julius Randle batted down two straight passes thrown his way to force Hinds into a field goal with 43 seconds left.
On the Lions' next play, though, Eagles defensive back D'Eldrick Taylor picked off EMCC quarterback Rod Stevens and returned the interception for a touchdown, giving Hinds a 25-7 halftime lead.
It was just one of several occasions on which Stevens was hurried into throwing a pass before his play developed.