SCOOBA — Two of the nation’s best were in their element Thursday night.
Quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. threw for a season-best 449 yards and five touchdowns in the No. 1 East Mississippi Community College football team’s 49-3 victory against No. 15 Holmes C.C. 49-3 at Sullivan-Windham Field.
About two hours north, Itawamba C.C. quarterback Dan Ellington threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns in a 68-28 victory against Northeast Mississippi C.C. at Eaton Field in Fulton.
Ellington entered the week with 2,182 yards — 405 more yards than second place. Scott entered fourth in the nation at 1,392 yards. Ellington has thrown a nation-best 19 touchdowns, while Scott is second with 15.
“Lindsey now has a full grasp of our offense,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. “We got him one week before the season started. He is such a competitor. He now has a full grasp of everything we are trying to do in every situation. I have no problem turning him loose.”
Scott has thrown for 400 or more yards twice this season. Bo Wallace did it five times at EMCC, while Jaquez Johnson and Chad Kelly did it three times.
“The only way (a night like this) happens is if you have some great teammates,” Scott said. “We felt good from the start of the game.”
EMCC had 13 receivers catch passes. Calvin Keys Jr. led the way with seven receptions for 111 yards. Keys, Mike Williams, Kirk Merritt, Dontario Drummond, and Braden Boykin caught touchdowns.
“The most physical group of wide receivers we have had here,” Stephens said. “That has shown up in the number of 50-50 balls we have won. They just outwork the defensive backs on a regular basis. Really proud at how well they are playing.”
EMCC sophomore running back Tyrell Price was held to 30 yards rushing, but he scored a nation-best 12th rushing touchdown.
Poll watching
It was a good night for EMCC all the way around.
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national rankings included six Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) members this week.
EMCC was ranked No. 1 for a third-straight week. The Lions have played or will play the other five ranked teams. Of those five, four won Thursday night.
No. 11 Northwest Mississippi C.C. beat Coahoma C.C. 35-0 in Senatobia.
In the MACJC South Division, No. 12 Hinds C.C. beat Copiah-Lincoln C.C., 16-15; No. 17 Jones County Junior College beat East Central C.C., 49-7; No. 20 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. beat Mississippi Delta C.C., 52-20.
Hinds C.C. is 4-0 in South Division play, while JCJC is 3-0. Those teams play each other Oct. 21 in Ellisville.
Up next
EMCC will travel to Northwest Mississippi C.C. (4-1, 3-1) for a 6:30 p.m. start Thursday in Senatobia.
With a win, EMCC will nail down a seventh-straight North Division championship. The Lions have won 28-straight division games dating back to the final game of the 2012 season.
“It never gets old playing for championships,” Price said. “We have a lot higher goals than that. But to reach our goals, this is the first step in the process. We take a lot of pride in being North Division champions. We know Northwest is going to try to take that away from us.”
Northwest Mississippi C.C. dropped a 27-24 decision to ICC earlier in the season. Since then, the Rangers have won three-straight division games, including two by shutout.
The victory against Coahoma C.C. was a 14th-straight home win.
“Our attitude on the road has been great this season,” Stephens said. “It has been very business-like. We know what Northwest is all about. It will be a challenge. However, I like how we are playing. We are doing a lot of things right. Now is the final step in the process of becoming a championship team.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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