When the ball is in the air, East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver Damion Willis feels a flutter in his heart.
“There is still nothing more exciting than running the perfect route and seeing the ball headed your way,” Willis said. “It never gets old. When you are a receiver, you are not directly involved on every play. That puts the pressure on. When the ball is headed your way, you have to make a play.”
The ball should be in the air plenty when No. 9 EMCC takes on Mississippi Delta Community College in a Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division game at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sullivan-Windham Field in Scooba.
EMCC will look to extend its 20-game North Division winning streak. The Lions also will try to hit the midway mark of the division schedule with an undefeated division record.
“It has taken a little time to put everything together,” Willis said. “I think the last game showed what we are capable of doing. Anytime you start a new season, it takes some time to get everybody adjusted. Playing games is way different than practice. As we have grown up on the field, this team has gotten better.”
EMCC moved to No. 9 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national rankings. EMCC (3-1, 2-0 division) won its third-straight game last week with a 44-42 victory against then-No. 15 Itawamba C.C.
According to the team’s final statistics, the Lions set a new school record for total offense with 802 yards in the win.
“That game was fun for everybody,” Willis said. “When you are clicking on offense and you know the defense can’t stop you, it’s a good feeling. It seemed like everything we tried, worked. Once we scored on the first couple of possessions, we knew it was going to be our night.”
Florida State transfer De’Andre Johnson earned his second-straight MACJC Offensive Player of the Week award after accumulating 588 yards of total offense against ICC.
Johnson is second in the state with 938 passing yards, despite missing the team’s season-opening loss at Jones County Junior College. His ability to be a dual threat has helped him flourish in Buddy Stephens’ up-tempo offense.
“I think we have all learned something from De’Andre,” said Willis, who prepped at Southeast Lauderdale High School in Meridian. “He was our undisputed team leader from the first practice. He has already been (on the senior college level). He knows what it takes to have that competitive drive to be successful.”
Willis is 10th in the state with 16 receptions for 197 yards. The pass-happy Lions usually have 10 or more receivers catch a pass in each game.
“Damion has really grown as a player and as a person,” EMCC offensive coordinator Marcus Wood said. “His work ethic is outstanding. He works hard every day in practice and is one of those who is ready to go each time the lights turn on. His ability to make good yardage after the catch has become one of his greatest strengths.”
EMCC and Mississippi Delta will play Thursday for the first time since a benches-clearing brawl in the final game of the 2015 regular season. EMCC was leading 48-0 inside the final minute of the first half when an altercation on the field led to a series of fights and to both benches emptying. The game was called and EMCC awarded a win.
EMCC lost to JCJC in the opener, thanks in large part to half the roster being suspended for the season opener because of the fight. Delta (0-5, 0-2) has scored 10 points in five games.
“I think we learned a lot from last season,” Willis said. “You can’t really put yourself in that position. At the same time, you can’t let one of your teammates be attacked without helping him. All of that is in the past. We have high goals like we do every year around here. We are in a little trouble because we lost the first game. However, we feel like all of our goals are still within reach. Thursday night will be all business. We want to let our play speak for itself.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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