SCOOBA — Skill positions are crucial in a high-octane offense.
But there’s plenty of credit to go around when a team scores 41 or more points in its last nine games on the way to an undefeated 11-0 mark and a shot at a national championship.
Some of that credit to East Mississippi Community College football team has to go to a sophomore-laden offensive line that has helped quarterback Bo Wallace and the offense average 553.2 yards per game.
“Our guys are a lot more experienced,” said EMCC coach Buddy Stephens, who also coaches the offensive line. “I think it’s a big deal and has made a difference. It really hurt us last year. We gave up five times as many sacks last year as we did this year.”
With only one returning starter last season, the Lions started 0-3 and regrouped to win a tiebreaker to advance to the playoffs, where they lost to Copiah-Lincoln C.C. in the first round.
This season, EMCC has won its second state title in three years and is ranked No. 2 in the country. A year after averaging 438.5 yards per game, EMCC has soared to new heights with Wallace, a transfer from Arkansas State, leading the way. Wallace and the Lions will try to cap a perfect season at 3:30 p.m. Saturday when they play No. 1 Arizona Western in the El Toro Bowl at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Yuma, Ariz.
“I think we learned a lot last year as freshmen,” EMCC starting center Warren Jones, of Noxubee County High School, said. “We had only one starter returning, but we got a lot of experience.”
Right guard Gussie Lane III, a teammate of Jones’ at Noxubee County, was the Lions’ only returning starter on the offensive line. He said a year of experience has been a key ingredient in helping the offensive linemen mature into better players.
“Coming into the season, our goal was to win the (MACJC) North Division, then to win the state championship,” Lane said. “If we did that, we thought we would have a chance at a national championship.”
The season hasn’t been without challenges, especially on the offensive line. In the first game of the season the Lions lost freshman starter center Tyler Stanley, of Meridian High, to a broken leg. Two games later, Jones moved from left guard to center, a position he played last year and at Noxubee County High.
“The move wasn’t very hard,” Jones said “I had to get back into my snapping rhythm. The biggest thing is that when you play center you have to be able to read the blitzes and call the blocking assignments.”
Joining Jones and Lane on the offensive line are sophomore right tackle Ryan Hollivay, of New Hope High, freshman left guard Jarrod Atterberry, of Starkville High, and sophomore left tackle Derrick Wilson, of Greenville.
“We have built a lot of depth,” Stephens said. “We have some guys who have come a long way and have worked through some adversity.”
Stephens said it’s not easy to come in and to play offensive line in a wide-open offense right out of high school.
“Maybe you just run the ball all of the time, and now we are asking you to pass block against the type of athletes we play against,” he said. “But you have to learn quickly. After three or four games you’re not a freshman any more.”
Hollivay said he has come a long way from last season, as has the offensive line. He feels the contributions up front have been a key element to the team’s success.
“We have a lot of confidence,” said the 6-foot-7, 346-pound Hollivay. “We feel like we can make the kind of blocks that need to be made to open holes for our running backs. We really know what all of us are capable of.”
Hollivay said he worked at getting stronger, learning about his position, and getting better at my technique. He plans to visit several schools after the season to determine where he will play his last two years of football.
Hollivay said all of the linemen felt improved play could help the Lions realize their goal of making a deep run in the playoffs and competing for title.
“I thought I could manhandle some people when I first got here, but I realized things were different on this level,” Hollivay said.
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 37 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 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
