SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College defensive back Shaquille Fluker really likes the players he goes into battle with each weekend.
“We have a really great defensive unit,” said Fluker, a University of Georgia commitment. “I think this game opened some eyes. This is the type of effort we plan to bring each game this season.”
The top-ranked Lions forced five turnovers and pitched a second-half shutout en route to a 35-15 win against Pearl River C.C. on a rainy season-opening Saturday afternoon at Sullivan-Windham Field
“I think the defense really saved us today,” EMCC sophomore wide receiver Billy Shed said. “Offensively, we are going to get there, but it is going to take a little time. I am really glad the defense showed up today, otherwise we would have lost. If they can do this the rest of the year, once (the offense) gets on the same page, we are going to be a great team.”
EMCC was anything but great, but it overcame a 44-minute lightning delay and the ferocious PRCC passing attack, led by former Mississippi State University player Dylan Favre, a nephew of former National Football League star Brett Favre.
Favre was 38 of 57 for 327 yards with three interceptions.
Offensively, the Lions had numerous drops and also saw quarterback Quez Johnson overthrow wide open receivers at least four times.
“You look at the statistics, they are not good,” EMCC fifth-year coach Buddy Stephens said. “But if you really look at the type of game Quez played it was good. If you run our offense efficiently and don’t turn the ball over, that is a good day. That is something that is hard to do, the way we play the game.”
Johnson was playing his first live football game in two seasons. A former Starkville High School standout, Johnson’s prep career ended with a shoulder injury. His first season at EMCC was spent rehabbing the shoulder.
“I think Quez was a little too amped,” said Shed, who played with Johnson in high school. “You could see his eyes before the game. They were big. You have to like the way we ran routes and got everybody involved. We now come back to practice Monday and work on the timing. Things will get better.”
Stephens felt the same way about his offense. EMCC still managed 351 total yards and 16 first downs. Those positive numbers were offset by 147 yards lost on 13 penalties.
“That is called youth, plain and simple,” Stephens said. “What you saw today were a lot of things that will be correctable. I think we will grow and get better as a football team. The defense was outstanding. Pearl River is so good at what they try to do offensively. The second half may have been the best defensive half of football since I have been here.”
The Lions eased to a 21-15 halftime lead. With EMCC unable to gain steady chunks of offense through the air and the rain picking up, the Lions moved to a ground attack.
Sophomore back Rodriguez Moore ran 16 times for 112 yards and a touchdown. Moore picked up critical yardage in the second half as the Lions tried to protect their halftime lead.
Finally, a short punt allowed EMCC to move 45 yards on five plays for a game-clinching touchdown. Shed caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Johnson. That scored pushed the lead to 28-15 with 2 minutes, 20 seconds left in regulation.
Johnson was 16 of 38 for 203 yards and three touchdowns in his debut. Corey Smith also debuted Saturday. The former Akron University player had six catches for 106 yards. Smith, Shed, and Nick Brassell each had touchdown catches.
“We have a lot of dimensions to our offense,” Shed said. “Once we put it all together, we are going to be fun to watch.”
EMCC closed the door seconds later when Fluker returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown. Teammates Jason Yarbor and Byerson Cockrell had the other interceptions. Fluker and Lauren Jackson had fumble recoveries. Za’Darius Smith had a forced fumble. Justin Cox had two critical pass breakups, including a fourth-down deflection in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.
“We didn’t feel any added pressure because the offense was struggling,” Fluker said. “Our goal was to come out and do what we do. The defense has been steady all through practice. We are a tight group. We are hungry group. It is our championship and we are going to do everything in our power to defend it.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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