East Mississippi Community College sophomore running back Deon McIntosh has enjoyed his expanding role with the nation’s top-ranked junior college football team.
At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, McIntosh could become the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher since the 2013 season when No. 1 EMCC (8-0, 5-0) visits Northeast Mississippi C.C.(1-7, 1-4) in the final Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division regular-season game for each team.
“This has been a fun experience,” McIntosh said. “The coaches and my teammates believe in me. When you have that kind of support, it’s easy to do your job. We are all here to win a championship. Whatever it takes to reach that level is what we are going to do.”
EMCC will try to complete its fourth undefeated regular-season in program history. Last week, EMCC used a 47-0 home victory against Coahoma C.C. to wrap up the MACJC North Division title and earn a first-round home playoff game against No. 15 Copiah-Lincoln C.C. on Nov. 3.
“On offense, we have had a lot of adversity, some injuries, lost some key players,” McIntosh said. “It’s a testament to the attitude around here that we have just kept pushing. Nothing is going to get us down. There is a championship standard in place. It’s our job to perform to that standard.”
McIntosh will be look for his fifth-straight 100-yard game. Overall, he has run for 845 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is second in the state in rushing yards and first in touchdowns. The Notre Dame transfer is bidding to become the third 1,000-yard rusher in Buddy Stephens’ 11 seasons as coach. Lakenderic Thomas ran for 1,334 yards in 2013, while Rodriguez Moore ran for 1,303 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011.
McIntosh also should finish as the second out-of-state player to be a leading rusher. Moore was the other one.
“Elite teams have balance,” Stephens said. “We will always have a pass-oriented offense, but when you have a couple of bruising backs, it makes everything better. Our championship teams have had that dominating back who could take over a game.”
Last season, Tyrell Price ran for 989 yards and 24 touchdowns in EMCC’s run to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championship, He finished with five 100-yard games.
“In our offense, it’s easy for the running back to be slept on,” McIntosh said. “The quarterbacks are always putting up big numbers. That’s good for the backs. We fly under the radar a little bit.”
Rushing statistics have been even harder to come by since the MACJC instituted its mercy rule in 2014. The clock runs when a team holds a lead of greater than 38 points in the second half.
This season, EMCC has run the ball more in the opening half. The Lions also have overcome injuries along the offensive line and multiple changes due at quarterback due to injuries.
“It’s important for this team to become a more complete offense, and we know that,” McIntosh said. “We have all the pieces. We just have been as dominating as we need to be. Fortunately, we have kept winning, and that has allowed us to work on some things and to keep growing.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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