SENATOBIA — While no championship was won Thursday night at Bobby Franklin Field, it felt like a championship celebration took place.
The No. 10 Northwest Mississippi Community College sent shockwaves through the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) with a 61-38 upset of No. 1 East Mississippi C.C. in a North Division game.
“We have been building for this game for quite some time,” Northwest Mississippi C.C. freshman running back Monta Thomas said. “When we came on the field and saw all the people, chills, man, it was an awesome feeling. We felt like we had something (for EMCC). Turns out, we did.”
Northwest Mississippi C.C. (5-1, 4-1 division) snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series and avenged a loss to EMCC in last year’s MACJC State championship game. The Rangers also gave a major boost to their hopes of winning a second National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship in three seasons.
EMCC (6-1, 4-1) saw a 28-game division winning streak snapped. The Lions most likely will lose out on a seventh-straight outright MACJC North Division championship. Northwest Mississippi C.C. and EMCC will share the title if Northwest beats Northeast Mississippi C.C. on Oct. 26.
If Northwest Mississippi C.C. wins that game, it will serve as the North No. 1 seed in the MACJC playoffs. EMCC can still clinch a ninth playoff appearance under Buddy Stephens and a share of the North by beating Coahoma C.C. for Homecoming on Oct. 21.
The game was played before an overflow crowd with spectators standing five deep all along the end zone fence.
It was a situation where EMCC normally thrives. However, the Lions held one lead — 3-0 after a field goal on the opening possession. From there, Northwest Mississippi C.C. dominated and controlled the offensive and defensive lines.
A normally sure-handed EMCC group of receivers dropped five balls. EMCC defensive players dropped three interceptions. An ability to overcome the sloppy play didn’t present itself Thursday night.
“As the quarterback, I take full responsibility, even for the drops,” EMCC quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. said. “Sometimes, I have to throw a better ball. We had a difficult night finishing drives. It’s disheartening because we didn’t show what we are capable of doing on the big stage.”
In a battle between two of the state’s top quarterbacks, Louisiana Tech transfer and Mississippi native Jack Abraham was 23-for-33 for 314 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Scott was 26-for-45 for 310 yards and three touchdowns. He threw two critical interceptions in the second half when EMCC tried to rally from a 27-17 halftime deficit.
A 66-yard interception return touchdown by Northwest Mississippi C.C.’s Brandin Echols was the back-breaker. It gave the Rangers a 54-31 lead with 6 minutes, 17 seconds remaining.
“I didn’t think anything (of the quarterback battle),” Abraham said. “I just thought about this game as a chance for our offense to do its thing. When we are clicking, I feel like we have the best offense in the state. It was on full display tonight.”
Northwest Mississippi C.C. showed balance with 314 passing yards and 252 yards rushing.
“When everything is working, it feels good,” Thomas said. “This was the best we have felt the entire season. Everything worked. It was like get a touchdown, go back get the ball and get another touchdown. We felt invincible out there.”
Northwest Mississippi C.C. saw nine of 13 possessions end in touchdowns. It was the most points allowed by EMCC since a 75-71 victory against Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. in the 2009 state championship game. A score in the final minute kept the final margin from being the worst loss in EMCC coach Buddy Stephens’ 10 seasons.
Northwest Mississippi C.C. won 19 of 20 series meetings before Stephens’ arrival. Under Stephens, EMCC had won nine of the last 10. Many of those wins came in blowout fashion.
“This was for all of the other Northwest teams, too,” Thomas said. “It was a special win. You could tell in practice, starting Monday this was a different week. The Itawamba loss was tough, but we weren’t going to let it define us. We just had to keep battling. We knew we still had a lot to play for. The feeling we have right now, that’s the reason why you play this game.”
EMCC has had that feeling before, too. With two regular-season games remaining and two potential state playoff games, there are still championships to be won. The national championship isn’t out of the question, but it looks to be an uphill climb for both combatants from Thursday night.
“All teams face adversity,” Scott said. “How you respond to the adversity is what separates champions. I am looking forward to seeing what this team is made of. I think I know the answer.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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