SCOOBA – C.J. Bates relishes the opportunity to be an impact player as a freshman at East Mississippi Community College.

The former multi-sport start at Louisville High School is also happy to be playing the game again, after a knee injury during fall camp sidelined him during the 2012 season.

Bates, an all-state selection in 2011 with the Wildcats, has taken his initial role and even expanded it for the third-ranked Lions.

“To be able to counted on after last year means a lot to me,” Bates said. “It has been a very good start, but I think we just now are starting to take off.”

The same could be said for both Bates in particular and the EMCC team in general.

EMCC (4-0 overall, 1-0 North Division) plays host to Coahoma Community College (0-4 overall, 0-2 North Division) Saturday. Kickoff for EMCC’s Homecoming game is set for 2 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field.

“You never really know what to expect when you come into a championship program like this,” Bates said. “You are eager. You try to set yourself apart at practice. Then las season, was a major setback. Now that I am back on the field, it feels like I have been here forever. This is a special team and I just want to do my best to play a part.”

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Bates has handled most of the kick return duties for the Lions this season. His break-away speed and strong initial move made him a natural for that position. As the season has progressed, Bates has worked his way into a bigger presence on the offensive side of the ball.

In a season-opening win at Pearl River Community College, Bates had a 62-yard punt return for touchdown. That play sparked his return with EMCC and also helped him land two different special teams awards on both the state and national level.

“C.J. has incredible instincts,” EMCC sixth-year coach Buddy Stephens said. “His first move is very good. He is a smart runner and makes good decision. His growth and maturity as a pass receiver has been great, as well.”

In the wide-open, pass-happy attack for the Lions, everyone gets their opportunities. Fourteen different receivers have caught at least one ball from either Dontreal Pruitt or Todd Mays. Through the air, EMCC is averaging 360 yards per game passing (third-best nationally) with 16 touchdowns (second-best).

“C.J. has really developed into a great receiver,” Pruitt said. “We knew he had speed. He has worked real hard on routes and timing. He is one of the guys that I have tremendous amount of confidence in. He has good size and good hands, so you know he can leap up there and win the jump balls.”

Bates is second on the team and seventh in the state with 16 receptions for 249 yards. His style fits with an EMCC offense, which has outscored opponents 163-0 in the opening halves of games this year.

“This offense is really amazing,” said Bates, who drew a medical red-shirt for 2012. “When you are being recruited, you have an idea, but when you see it in person, it is totally different than what you expected. We go all out all of the time and that is what makes it fun. When you have a veteran leader like Dontreal running the offense, you are going to score a lot of points. We are disappointed when we don’t have a scoring drive. I feel blessed that the coaches have given me this opportunity. Now it is my job to make the most of it.”

EMCC has climbed to third in the latest national rankings. Last season, EMCC won its first eight games but saw a repeat national championship opportunity dashed with back-to-back losses to end the season.

“This team is more focused than any other team I have ever been on,” Bates said. “We are all like brothers and we like to have a good time. However, on the football field, it is all business. We want to do the best we can on every possession in every game. We strive for perfection and that involves both the coaches and the players. Everybody is expected to give their best. We have enough talent that everybody’s best makes us a really good football team.”

Bates learned the lessons of hard work and patience under veteran coach M.C. Miller at Louisville. As a senior in 2011, Bates had 72 receptions for 1,030 and 14 touchdowns. That Louisville squad finished 12-2 and advanced to the third round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Class 4A playoffs.

“Coach Miller had a big influence on my playing career,” Bates said. “I learned a lot about discipline and hard work there. The lessons I learned there I have tried to apply here. I had some great teammates there. Now, this opportunity here is similar.”

The success of both teams is similar as well. Louisville is unbeaten through five games and has already established itself as a favorite to win this season’s MHSAA Class 3A state championship.

“They have it going on down there,” Bates said “Of course, we do, too.”

Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.