The final week of the MACJC regular season will answer several remaining questions.
East Mississippi Community College, Hinds C.C., and Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. have secured spots in the state playoffs that will begin at 2 p.m. Nov. 5. Itawamba C.C., Northeast Mississippi C.C., and Northwest Mississippi C.C. are vying for the fourth and final playoff spot.
As the North Division champion, third-ranked EMCC will play host to the South Division runner-up, Mississippi Gulf Coast or Hinds. At the same time, the South Division champion will play host the North Division runner-up.
In the South, No. 7 Gulf Coast (7-1, 5-0 division) will play host to No. 10 Hinds (7-1, 5-0) Saturday in Perkinston. The winner will be the South Division champion, while the loser will be the runner-up.
EMCC beat Gulf Coast 34-30 in Scooba and beat Hinds 20-17 in Raymond. Hinds has clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1994, while Gulf Coast is the defending state champion.
In the North, EMCC (8-0, 5-0) is the division champion for the third time in the past four seasons. The Lions have made the playoffs in each of Buddy Stephens’ four seasons as coach. EMCC rode the home-field advantage to its only state championship, in 2009.
The North Division runner-up spot is a little more complicated. On Thursday night, Northwest (5-3, 3-2) will visit Itawamba (4-4, 4-1), while No. 18 Northeast (6-2, 4-2) will play at South Division rival Copiah-Lincoln C.C. (4-4, 2-4).
If Itawamba defeats Northwest, it will run its win streak to five games and secure the second spot in the division. If Northwest defeats Itawamba and Copiah-Lincoln defeats Northeast, Northwest will make the playoffs as the North No. 2. If Northwest defeats Itawamba and Northeast defeats Copiah-Lincoln, Northeast will grab the final spot.
The North Division champion also will play host to the state championship game at 2 p.m. Nov. 12. If EMCC loses in the first round, the South Division champion would host the title game. Two Nos. 2 in the championship would meet in the north part of the state.
The Mississippi state champion will play in the Mississippi Bowl at 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at Biloxi Indians Stadium.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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