SCOOBA — In the past two seasons, quarterbacks Bo Wallace and Quez Johnson have grabbed most of the headlines in the East Mississippi Community College football team’s 15-game winning streak.
Players and coaches understand EMCC’s high-octane offense only flourishes when all 11 players on that unit do their part.
Former Heritage Academy standout Blake Sharp is happy to be in that equation. Sharp, a freshman, is projected to get his fourth start at right tackle at 7 p.m. Thursday when No. 4 EMCC takes on Mississippi Delta C.C. at Sullivan-Windham Field in Scooba.
“For someone such as me, who is from a smaller school, this has been a lot of fun,” Sharp said. “I am really thankful the coaches have put this much faith in me. Adjusting to playing college ball has been a challenge, but it has been a fun one.”
While most area high school football players know EMCC has had unprecedented success, Sharp admits he hadn’t seen a game in person at EMCC before attending a scrimmage. Watching the team in that practice environment made an impression.
“After attending that scrimmage, this was the place I wanted to come,” Sharp said. “I knew it would be a big jump, but I felt like I was ready for it. When you get here and you see the stadium and the other surroundings, you come away impressed. You quickly realize how much football means on this campus. The all-around experience is what motivated me to come here and helped me decide to sign.”
Signing with EMCC was an accomplishment in and of itself. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Sharp then had work to do to earn a starting spot.
“The summer was so tough,” Sharp said. “We worked hard every day. I think the hard work is going to pay off. When a team is coming off a national championship, you know the program is successful. You know that they do things the right way. You can trust the philosophy and buy in much more quickly.”
Sharp’s consistent work ethic made an impression on EMCC coach Buddy Stephens.
“We don’t really pay attention to the size of school or the program a player comes from,” Stephens said. “We are focused in players who will fit our needs. Chemistry is the most important aspect of football. We know year in and year out, we will have talented players. The challenge is to find the right chemistry.
“Players who work hard and are eager to succeed on the next level are the type of players we want. Blake is one of those kinds of players. When you come in and make the strides that he has made, you are dealing with a special player.”
Sharp is part of a youth movement on the offensive line. Right guard Kenny Averhart (Columbus High School), center Tyler Stanley (Meridian High), and left tackle Avery Gennesy (Southaven High) are freshmen. Left guard Jarrod Atterberry (Starkville High) is the only sophomore.
“I am excited because so many of the new guys have a lot of speed and athletic ability,” Sharp said. “The key to our success is teamwork and working hard. The coaches know the right ways to push us. The main thing is staying hungry and staying on task.”
Off to a 3-0 start, EMCC set a new school record for total offense last week with 786 yards in a 59-6 win at Southwest Mississippi C.C. It has scored 50-plus points in back-to-back games, and is averaging better than 48 points per game.
Also a freshman, Johnson has thrown for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns in the no-huddle spread offense. On each possession, the Lions aim to score in two minutes or less.
“The thing that has amazed me the most about this team is the speed,” Sharp said. “We are fast and we like to go fast. As soon as one play ends, our job is to run the next one as quickly as possible. Sometimes, that is tough on the big guys. We beat the other team a lot, because they are not ready. The faster we go, the better we are.”
The formula has paid off. EMCC won all 12 games it played last season to win its first national championship. This season, the Lions have tightened up the weak spots on defense. The Lions were preseason No. 1 in the nation and held that spot until Tuesday, when they slipped to fourth.
While the Lions enjoy precision on the field, that attention to detail permeates the program.
“We are so well coached,” Sharp said. “We are well dressed. The way we present ourselves is always professional. The offensive players and defensive players get along hang out with one another. A lot of teams have clicks and we don’t. It is always about work, professionalism, and having fun. Our attitude shows others what we are there to do.”
After arriving on the EMCC campus in the summer, Sharp knew he had made the right choice. From there, it was a matter of seizing the opportunity.
“This summer was the hardest I have ever worked,” Sharp said. “I really did well with my running this summer. In the weight room, I pushed myself every day. Once we put on the pads, I kept grinding every day.
“I knew what kind of offense we were going to have this year. I wanted to make sure I got to play a part in it.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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