POPLARVILLE — Three unanswered second-quarter touchdowns helped propel the No. 3 East Mississippi Community College football team to a 41-17 victory against Pearl River C.C. in a non-division MACJC game at Dobie Holden Stadium.
EMCC took the early advantage midway through the opening quarter when freshman Antoinne Adkins scored on a 16-yard keeper at the 8-minute, 3-second mark. Kicker Taylor Walker misfired on his first point-after attempt of the year. He had converted 35 straight PATs entering the game.
The Wildcats answered three minutes later, as quarterback Melvin German connected with Jonathan Duncan for a 10-yard scoring pass on a fourth-and-two play. Caleb Kergosein’s successful PAT put PRCC on top 7-6 with 5:03 left in the opening period. The deficit marked only the second time this season (Northwest Mississippi was the other) EMCC has trailed.
The Lions’ game-changing second quarter was initially fueled by linebacker Michael Pack’s first of two interceptions. His first interception came in the final minute of the first quarter. It led to an eight-play drive that covered 70 yards and ended with a 14-yard scoring pass from All-America quarterback candidate Bo Wallace to JJ Harbin. Walker’s PAT put the visitors on top for good, 13-7, early in the second quarter.
PRCC (4-3) appeared to be headed toward another score on its next possession, but the drive stalled on the 12-yard line. EMCC’s special teams unit then stepped up when defensive back Jeremy Cannon tipped Kergosein’s 30-yard field-goal attempt.
The Lions (7-0) used the momentum to strike quickly. Consecutive completions by Wallace to sophomore wide receiver Lacoltan Bester were followed by a 39-yard burst by freshman running back Rodriguez Moore down the left sideline. On the fifth play of the 80-yard drive, Wallace hit Rodney Davis over the middle, and the sophomore wide receiver fought for the final couple of yards to finish off the 12-yard scoring pass play. Walker’s accurate PAT increased the lead to 20-7 with 9:32 left until halftime.
With Pearl River driving toward the red zone, German hooked up with receiver Seth Roberts for a 20-yard pass play to EMCC’s 20-yard line. However, Roberts was stripped of the ball on the tackle and the Lions recovered the fumble.
EMCC then marched 80 yards, aided by two penalties, in 10 plays to extend its lead to 27-7 by the 4:42 mark. Following a defensive pass interference penalty on the Wildcats, Wallace stepped away from the pocket and found Davis in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard scoring strike.
Receiving the ball to open the second half of play, the Lions went 51 yards on six plays to score their fourth straight unanswered touchdown. Wallace scrambled for 32 yards to set up a 3-yard run by Adkins that extended the lead to 34-7 with 12:40 remaining in the third quarter.
Wallace threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game and 28th of the season — an 11-yard connection with Bester — at the 1:11 mark of the third quarter. Bester’s team-leading eighth touchdown came one play after freshman Shaquille Fluker returned an errant German pass 63 yards — his second pass interception of the year — to the 11.
Pack followed with his second interception of the game — third of the season — to tie him with safety Justin Cox for the team lead. Early in the final quarter, EMCC freshman cornerback Jason Yarbor made his second interception to give the Lions four picks on the day.
EMCC will play host to Mississippi Delta at 2 p.m. Saturday for its Homecoming at EMCC’s New Sullivan-Windham Field.
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