CLARKSDALE — East Mississippi Community College freshman lineman Maleke Bell admits it took him about a month to adjust to playing on this level and feeling comfortable around his teammates.
The same could be said for the Lions’ defense as a whole.
With the learning curve now firmly behind the squad, the former Starkville High standout is helping lead a defense that appears to be peaking at the right time.
No. 3 EMCC threw its first shutout of the year Thursday night in a 42-0 blanking of Coahoma C.C. in a Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division battle at James Miller Field.
“It really is finally coming together,” Bell said. “It just took a little while because all of this is new to us. We have some many Division I transfers. All of these players get here and they have to learn the system, how to play together, how to live together. It’s just an adjustment. Things are clicking right now. It’s a good time to be out there and to be part of this defense.”
EMCC finished its fourth-straight undefeated run through division play. The Lions won their sixth-straight North Division title outright and eighth title in Buddy Stephens’ nine seasons as coach. EMCC has won 24-straight division games dating back to the final game of the 2012 regular season.
EMCC will play host to Hinds C.C. at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in its final regular-season game. It will take on a yet to be determined team from the South Division Nov. 5 in a MACJC state semifinal game.
“We have been scrapping for that shutout all season,” EMCC sophomore defensive back Dontavius Powell said. “We usually get three or four a year. Hopefully, we can get several more here at the end of the year. That would be a good way to end my career here.”
EMCC clinched the No. 1 seed in the division by whipping then-No. 1 Northwest Mississippi C.C. 51-32 last Saturday in Scooba. Playing on the road against a winless opponent, the phrase “trap game” immediately came to mind.
“Really proud of the kids, they just took a business-like approach to the game,” Stephens said. “We came here with a mission. This game does not have the emphasis or excitement level of last week’s game. That doesn’t mean, though, that you don’t show up, play hard, and take care of business.
“The theme of tonight was finishing. I wanted to see us finish runs. I wanted us to finish tackles. I wanted us to finish drives. We did a good job of finishing.”
The EMCC defense has been finishing well of late. Bell has five sacks in the last three games. On Thursday, Powell had an interception, while Ryan Lee had a fumble recovery.
The theme of the recent victories has been pressure on the quarterback. The Lions are finally getting into the backfield with consistency and generating quarterback hurries, sacks, poor throws, batted balls, and turnovers.
“The coaches have really been riding us the last couple of weeks,” Bell said. “They been telling us they don’t think we are any good. They tell us we are too slow to get back there and to get to the quarterback. All we heard the week of the Northwest game was that they were No. 1 and we probably wouldn’t get any sacks.
“It has been good motivation. We have been out to prove a point to our coaches, let alone everybody else around the state.”
The point is being received loud and clear.
EMCC defense is made up of multiple Division I transfers from across the country. The unit is beginning to jell at the right time.
“It is really as simple as playing football,” said EMCC sophomore defensive back Brian Cole, who transferred from Michigan. “I think there was some apprehension earlier in the year for whatever reason. This is a good unit with some really great players. You have to put your own personal skill level on display, but you also have to play well as a unit. We are doing a much better job of that here of late.”
The offensive starters only played a half as EMCC built a 28-0 halftime. The mercy rule kicked in for the final 10 minutes.
De’Andre Johnson threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns to give him 20 for the year. Tyrell Price ran for a season-high 94 yards and two scores to lead the rushing game. Former Starkville High standout Raphael Leonard caught a nifty 44-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone.
Damion Willis also had two touchdown catches, as the Lions held starting running back Isaiah Wright out to rest him for the stretch run.
EMCC finished with 437 yards of offense and allowed only 107.
Bell was dominant, but so were Powell, Rodney Jackson, Chauncey Rivers, and Ezekiel Rose to name a few.
While the 22nd-straight victory against Coahoma C.C. won’t garner national headlines, it will keep EMCC in the national championship race with one regular-season game remaining.
“We have come nowhere close to playing the perfect game,” Stephens said. “This team still has so much more to reach its potential. A lot of coaches are dealing with teams that already peaked and they are trying to get back to that level.
“We are on the other end. We have a good football team, but we have got a way to go to be a great football team. Hopefully, it will happen in the next four games.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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