The East Mississippi Community College football team started the season on top.
On Aug. 15, EMCC began the 2018 campaign as the nation’s top-ranked team in the initial National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings.
Slightly more than three months later, EMCC is still No. 1 and will face No.2 Garden City C.C. (Kansas) at 7 p.m. Thursday (CBS Sports Network) in Pittsburg, Kansas for the NJCAA national championship.
During its record-setting decade of dominance, EMCC never has been ranked No. 1 for an entire season.
EMCC will carry a 16-game winning streak into the title game. A win will help clear the way next season for EMCC to make a second run at the nation’s longest winning streak.
In 2015, EMCC dropped a 31-24 overtime decision at Copiah-Lincoln C.C. That loss snapped a 25-game winning streak that stretched over three seasons.
The streak started with back-to-back undefeated national championship teams in 2013 and 2014. It ended a win shy of matching the NJCAA’s all-time record for consecutive wins.
A win Thursday and another undefeated regular season would allow EMCC to set a new wins record in the opening round of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) playoffs next season.
Setting a new standard for consecutive wins is a long-term goal. For now, the goal is winning a fifth national championship in eight seasons.
EMCC has had a remarkable season. The team has been the nation’s leader in several defensive categories. On offense, the Lions have a quality group of that has done its part in a successful season.
The team also has used its depth to overcome injury-related adversity. The Lions have relied on their tremendous depth in the second half of the season.
The year has included close calls — such as a 24-21 win at East Central C.C. decided on a last-second field goal and a 19-14 come-from-behind win at Jones College to capture the MACJC State championship.
The postseason numbers under coach Buddy Stephens are staggering. EMCC is 14-3 in MACJC playoff games and has won seven state championships. The team is 6-0 in bowl games, including four in the national championship game.
To win Thursday night, the EMCC defense will again take center stage. The Lions are giving up a nation’s best 11.4 points per game. Four opponents have been held to 100 or fewer yards.
Garden City C.C. prefers to run the ball. Only a handful of teams specialize in the run in the MACJC. That means this will be a unique challenge for the Lions’ talented front.
Against Jones College, EMCC had a 6-0 advantage in the turnover department.
Much like the 2013 and 2014 national championship teams, EMCC excels in the little areas, too. From kickoffs to punt blocks, the Lions can beat an opponent so many ways.
The offense hasn’t put up the typical video-game numbers. However, the team commits few penalties, has more balance, and keeps turnovers to a minimum.
All of this has added up to what could be the program’s fourth 12-0 season. From 2011 to 2012, the Lions won 20-straight games.
Winning streaks of 20, 26, and 16 games reflect the Lions’ dominance.
Folks in Mississippi should tune in Thursday night and take pride in what they are watching. It’s a dynasty in every sense of the word.
Scott Walters is a sports writer for The Dispatch. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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