ECCC slips by SMCC
By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
Sept. 19, 2004
DECATUR With the likes of Pearl River, Hinds and Jones looming on both of their schedules, opening MACJC South Division play with a win Saturday afternoon was imperative for both the East Central Community College Warriors and the Southwest Mississippi Community College Bears.
The host Warriors scored 10 points in a span of less than three minutes in the second quarter to take a 17-6 victory over the Bears from Summit.
ECCC improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the division. Southwest fell to 0-3 and 0-1.
The Bears lost three fumbles and had two passes picked off to remain winless.
The Warriors started at the Bears 45 on their first possession following a 30-yard punt into a stout north wind, but ECCC was unable to move the ball.
ECCC partially blocked a Southwest punt later in the quarter, but after taking over at the Bears 35, Ryan Gale came up short on a 45-yard field goal attempt.
The Bears lost a fumble on their next play from scrimmage, but Gale's 46-yard field goal try hit the left upright and bounced back.
ECCC's Brian McNair picked off a Wally Cummins pass early in the second quarter. The Warriors reached the Bears 8, thanks to a 35-yard pass from Robbie Morse to Derrick Harris, but Gale missed to the left on a 27-yard attempt.
The Warriors covered 66 yards to finally put the first points on the board with 5:58 left in the half. On the drive, Morse hit Harris with a 31-yard gain and Chris Lark with receptions of nine, 12 and 20 yards. Terrance McFadden scored the touchdown on a one-yard run.
A high snap to Cummins in shotgun formation resulted in ECCC's Courtney Coleman coming up with a fumble recovery at the Southwest 28. Jay McMillan booted a 29-yard field goal with 3:11 to go in the half for a 10-0 lead.
Southwest threatened just before halftime, but Royce Fonte's 49-yard field goal was well off target.
The Warriors took advantage of a muffed punt to score on their first possession of the second half. Southwest's Michael Lewis was unable to hang onto the ball, and ECCC's Cameron Tawater recovered at the Bears 43. Chris Smith scored on a six-yard end around as the Warriors went up 17-0 with 10:18 to go in the third quarter.
The Bears got their only points with 14:16 left in the game when Micah Brown scored on a 3-yard keeper around right end. Fonte's kick sailed wide right, leaving ECCC with a 17-6 advantage.
ECCC had one final scoring chance after Marcus Arrington picked off a Brown pass at the Bears 38, but Gale's 52-yard field goal try hit the crossbar and bounced back.
The Warriors had 282 total yards with 176 coming on a 16-of-29 passing effort. ECCC had 39 rushes for 106 yards. Harris had six receptions for 98 yards, while Lark had five catches for 59 yards.
Southwest finished with 174 total yards with 105 coming on 30 rushes and 69 coming on a 9-of-28 passing effort.
