PERKINSTON — East Mississippi Community College sophomore linebacker Diamante Pounds knew the moment his team’s defense had seized control of the game.
“It is like there is blood in the water and we are sharks getting ready to attack,” Pounds said. “When we force one turnover, it is easy to get another. We just start feeding off that. You can tell when the other team is beaten down.”
No. 12 EMCC held No. 17 Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. to 168 yards and forced four turnovers Thursday night en route to a 45-7 victory before a capacity crowd at A.L. May Stadium.
Both teams began the season in the top five of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings. However, losses in the first week of the season meant this was essentially an elimination game in the national championship race.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Gulf Coast blocked a punt, recovered on the EMCC 1-yard line, and scored the first touchdown late in the first quarter. After that, the Lions’ domination was thorough.
“We came out focused and did a great job,” EMCC sophomore defensive back T.J. Jallow said. “Our coaches placed us in a position to be successful. We then went out and executed all of our assignments. Really, it was clicking on all cylinders. I think it comes down to preparation. I don’t think anybody does a better job of preparing.”
In his EMCC debut, Florida State transfer De’Andre Johnson threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns. He recovered after a fumble and interception on the team’s first two possessions.
EMCC erased the deficit to take a 14-7 halftime lead. In the second half, EMCC scored on all five possessions. As the offense found its rhythm, the EMCC defense started to roll in similar fashion.
“The defense played totally lights out,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. “Gulf Coast has a good offense and our guys totally shut them down. I can’t really say more than about what that unit has been doing. We have a lot of transfers on that side of the ball, and they have come in and fit nicely together right away.”
The first game-changing turnover took place when Pounds intercepted a batted pass at the line of scrimmage. Later in the first quarter, Penn State transfer Kam Carter broke through the line of scrimmage and harassed quarterback Kalen Whitlow before intercepting another pass.
“The coaches gave us a great plan,” Carter said. “Once we get one turnover, everybody is excited. On the interception, I was trying to get back there and get a sack. Getting the interception was like an added bonus. We were really flying around tonight and making plays. I think that was a lot of fun.”
The third turnover came when Powell stripped Whitlow of the ball and Jallow recovered and advanced the football 20 yards. One play later, Johnson hit Isaiah Wright for a 14-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead.
Sophomore defensive back Dontavius Powell capped the big night with a nifty interception over the middle, which he returned 77 yards. Powell angled for the pylon as he was knocked out bounds. The officials ruled him out at the 1.
“If I had one more ounce of speed, that would have been a touchdown,” Powell said. “I was happy to get that since we already had two other (interceptions). We started out slow, but once we got things going, we were really good. We work on turnovers every day in practice. I mean we work on them for a lot of hours. That paid off.”
Jallow was one of the 23 players not available for the season-opening loss at Jones County Junior College a week ago. Returning players were suspended by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) for a benches-clearing brawl in the final week of the 2015 regular season.
“It was kind of nerve wracking (waiting an extra week to play),” Jallow said. “We watched the game last week and were pulling for the other guys, o for this to be our first game as a unit, it came together well. The sophomores are just trying to lead by example.
“We are teaching the young guys to keep your composure. No matter what type of adversity you face in a game, you can’t let down and can’t give up. You have to keep fighting. It has been a long road back and that is what makes this game tonight so rewarding, especially for the sophomores.”
Big plays were all over the place for the EMCC defense. Georgia transfer Chauncey Rivers had a second-straight standout performance on the line. Powell had two pass breakups before his interception. Freshman linebacker Jay Johnson also had a sack and three hurries, building off a strong opener against JCJC. Sophomore linebacker Dakota Allen kept things clogged up in the middle.
“This team has some unfinished business (from last season),” Powell said. “For a first game, this was quite the start. We have to keep it up. We have to get back what we lost (from last season).”
Follow Dispatch Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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