BILOXI — East Mississippi Community College sophomore defensive end Justin Lucas never worries about down and distance in a football game.
“Making plays,” said Lucas, who played at Aberdeen High School. “My biggest goal is making plays. Each time the ball is snapped, I hope to be where the ball is and I hope I can help make a play.”
Lucas made a bunch of plays Sunday in No. 1 EMCC’s 34-17 win against No. 2 Iowa Western C.C. in Mississippi Bowl VII at Biloxi High School. Lucas, who earned Defensive MVP honors for his team, also had bunch of help from his teammates to help No. 1 EMCC earn the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship.
“That award is pretty awesome,” Lucas said. “It is great when you are recognized for your play. It is even better when that award sits next to the big one (the national championship trophy).”
EMCC forced a season-high five turnovers and held Iowa Western to 195 yards. Lucas had a team-high 14 tackles, including two for loss.
Sophomore quarterback Chad Kelly was named the Lions’ Offensive MVP. He completed a season-high 40 passes in a season-high 53 attempts. The 434 passing yards fell 2 shy of matching a season high. His five touchdown passes matched a season high.
“There is nervousness any time you are playing for a national championships,” Kelly said. “We settled down and played some good football. Even though I was only here one year, it was a special year. Championships mean a lot.”
Iowa Western receiver Alex Reed had four catches for 54 yards to earn his team’s offensive award, while a game-high 16 tackles gave linebacker Marcus Montgomery his team’s defensive award.
The postgame presentation also included Kelly being awarded the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Mississippi Bowl Player of the Year award. Kelly finished the season with 3,906 passing yards and 47 touchdowns.
Streaking
EMCC set a new MACJC win streak record with its 24th-straight victory.
Attempts are being made to verify the national winning streak record, which also might belong to EMCC.
The previous MACJC record was 23-straight wins set by Pearl River C.C. from 2003 to 2005. EMCC coach Buddy Stephens was an assistant coach at PRCC at that time.
EMCC also became the first MACJC institution with three national championships, and the first MACJC school to repeat as national champions. EMCC is the fourth school to repeat as national champion.
EMCC is 4-0 in bowl games under Stephens, including Mississippi Bowl wins in 2009 and 2013. The Lions are 3-0 in national championship game. Sunday marked the first time EMCC took the field as the No. 1 team in the national championship game.
Hall of Fame
Moss Point native Malcolm Tatum became the first member of the Mississippi Bowl Hall of Fame.
Tatum, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive end, represented Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the inaugural game in 2008.
Chosen as Mississippi Gulf Coast’s Defensive MVP, Tatum helped lead MGCCC to a win against Georgia Military College. His induction took place at halftime of the game.
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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