SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College football coach Buddy Stephens took great pride in playing for a national championship in Mississippi last season.
Stephens is beside himself because the Lions will get the opportunity to do it again at 2 p.m. Sunday when No. 1 EMCC (11-0) faces No. 2 Iowa Western College (11-0) in the seventh playing of the Mississippi Bowl at Biloxi High School’s Indian Stadium. The game, which will be for the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship, can be heard on WFCA-FM (107.9) and watched live on EMCC’s web site.
“We talked about last year how special playing for the national championship on the Gulf Coast was,” Stephens said. “We felt like we won a title for the entire state. It is difficult for junior college fans to travel. However, we packed the entire coast out a year ago. It was a special. It was emotional.
“Winning a national championship is special in its own right. To play such a game with a huge home-field advantage made it even more special.”
The game matches two of the hottest programs. The Lions have won 23-straight games and 43 of their last 45 games. The Reivers have won 34 of their last 35 games. EMCC won the NJCAA national championship in 2011 and 2013, while Iowa Western won the 2012 championship.
“The NJCAA is pleased to again have its national championship football game be part of the prestigious Mississippi Bowl,” NJCAA President Bryce Roderick said. “Iowa Western and East Mississippi have both been impressive this season. It will be an exciting matchup that will showcase some of the top student-athletes of the NJCAA.”
Iowa Western has begun the trek to the coast with several practice stops scheduled on senior college campuses along the way. EMCC will leave its Scooba campus Friday morning.
Bowl festivities begin Friday with a team dinner, including keynote speaker Gus Malzahn, the football coach at Auburn. Both teams will practice Saturday and do charity work. A parade is also scheduled. The first Mississippi Bowl Hall of Fame class also will be enshrined.
Sunday will include numerous pregame activities leading up to the kickoff.
“Last year was a lot of fun,” EMCC sophomore quarterback/slotback Todd Mays said. “I thought they did a great job of making us feel really special. Even though it’s a road trip and a time for fun, it’s still a lot of business to be taken care of.
“I think this game will be more emotional for the sophomores since it will be our last time together. I never dreamed I would have stayed here two years. But it has gone by too fast. I am pretty excited about playing with my boys for one last time.”
EMCC secured the Mississippi Bowl invitation by defeating Copiah-Lincoln C.C. 54-15 to win the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges state championship. The Lions have won their previous two appearances in the Mississippi Bowl.
Until the final hours, though, it appeared EMCC might have to travel for postseason play. Iowa Western held the top spot in the final two regular season NJCAA rankings. That would have sent EMCC to Iowa for the Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Fortunately for the EMCC coaches, players, and fans, the final poll after the game against Co-Lin moved EMCC back to No. 1. This will be the first time EMCC has played for the national championship as the No. 1 team entering the game.
“This was a great lift for the Mississippi Bowl,” Stephens said. “We enjoyed playing in the game in 2009. However, it really gave the game a bigger spark when it actually became the game for No. 1. The biggest thing is for the fans. It is huge they can travel a short distance to see us play.”
Roderick expects another overflow crowd. The stadium exceeded its 5,000-seat capacity a year ago despite dreary weather conditions.
“These are the types of opportunities we strive to provide the student-athletes of the NJCAA,” Roderick said. “We could not do it without the great partnerships we have with people like Ladd Taylor, Bert Pickard, and their hard working staff of volunteers.”
EMCC is attempting to become the first to win three national championships in a four-year stretch. The Lions also would become the first MJCAA institution with three national titles.
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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