SCOOBA — Todd Mays took one look at the East Mississippi Community College football team’s offense and realized he wanted to be part of the system.
“This is so similar to what I ran at Olive Branch that I must be here for a reason,” Mays said. “I think that’s why no matter where the coaches have put me this season I’ve been able to adapt to any position or spot on the field.”
The former Olive Branch standout, who led his team to a 35-34 victory against Petal in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state title game last year, will return to EMCC next year to defend what he hopes is a national championship victory. No. 1 Georgia Military College (11-0) and No. 2 EMCC (11-0) will decide that at 2 p.m. Sunday when they meet in the Mississippi Bowl at Biloxi High School.
Mays acquired the statewide spotlight last year when he orchestrated a 80-yard scoring drive that started with 2 minutes, 47 seconds remaining. Mays rushed for 84 yards and threw for 241 to lead the Conquistadors to a championship.
“I think there’s a lot of similarities to playing in that high school state championship game and what’s about to take place Sunday in the title game,” Mays said. “Once you have success on a stage like that it just gives you more and more confidence to perform at a high level over and over.”
Mays signed with Arkansas State out of high school, but he left the school after one semester and declared that season a redshirt year. In a similar situation with former EMCC quarterback Bo Wallace, who is now at Ole Miss, Mays had option to leave EMCC after one season if he could graduate this spring, but he said Wednesday he will return to the program to compete for the job as quarterback in 2014.
“I haven’t really spoken to any (four-year) schools about leaving,” Mays said. “I’m actually looking forward to my opportunity to be the starting quarterback here next year as long as I can prove to the coaches I can win the job and can run this offense full time.”
EMCC coach Buddy Stephens and offensive coordinator Marcus Wood have used Mays as a backup for quarterback and NJCAA All-American Dontreal Pruitt. They also have used the 6-foot athlete in numerous positions and formations to exploit his athleticism.
“He’s a great kid that understands that if he messes up something he will look at me and say, ‘That’s why we practice coach, so we can get better,’ ” Stephens said. “He brings a great work ethic — a calm demeanor.”
In 11 games, Mays has used his goal-line packages and speed to become the team’s second-leading rusher (625 yards, 14 touchdowns). His dual-threat capabilities may be a major factor as No. 2 EMCC tries to become the third MACJC school to earn multiple national football championships.
“I think we’re all excited to finally get this game kicked off because the long layoff between games is what’s been killing the guys out here and something they’re not used to,” Mays said. “I really think it’ll be a great game and a great atmosphere for this team to show what we can do against one of the best teams in the country.”
Mays hopes he can continue a run of quarterbacks — Wallace, former Ole Miss standout Randall Mackey, and former Starkville High School standouts Quez Johnson and Brad Henderson — who have had success at EMCC.
“Ever since Randall was here, everybody has said, ‘Oh man, there’s never going to be another Randall Mackey,’ and then they said, ‘You’ll never have another Brad’ and ‘You’ll never have another Bo,’ but everybody has come in and for six years we’ve run the same offense,” Stephens said. “What we’ll do is a little different every year to help the guy throwing it around, but whoever we turn it over to is going to have good numbers.”
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter @matthewcstevens.
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