All East Mississippi Community College football needed to do in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference playoffs was win.
Those wins, which would have to come against a pair of top-10 nationally ranked teams who had beaten the Lions in the regular season, would give the Lions a chance at returning to the national playoffs.
EMCC did just that, taking down Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 33-21, in the MACCC semifinals and Copiah-Lincoln Community College, 27-20, in the championship game, for back-to-back MACCC titles.
The National Junior College Athletic Association playoff committee rewarded EMCC accordingly during Monday’s playoff selection show as the Lions earned the No. 4 seed, their first playoff berth since the NJCAA expanded its playoffs to four teams in 2021, and first overall since 2018.
EMCC finished the season 9-2, with top-10 wins over Jones College, Gulf Coast and Co-Lin, and a fourth ranked win over No. 13 Northwest Mississippi CC.
The Lions were a top-five offense in junior college football this season, finishing fifth in total offense and passing offense.
EMCC will travel to play No. 1 seeded Hutchinson Community College in the NJCAA playoff semifinals on Dec. 2 in Hutchinson, Kan., with a spot in the national title game on the line.
The Lions have an opportunity for their sixth national championship, which would tie the all-time junior college record currently held by Butler (Kan.) and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion