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Press Release Archives for September 1998

PRCC Resumes Classes on Wednesday
M.R. White Coliseum Suffers Extensive Damage

POPLARVILLE—Pearl River Community College will resume classes at 8 a.m., Wednesday, September 30.

President Ted Alexander said all students, faculty and staff members should report according to the regular Wednesday class and office schedule.

Hurricane Georges caused damage to several buildings on campus. The hardest hit is the Marvin White Coliseum where a large section of the roof was peeled back and a 30 foot by 10 foot section of a north side panel blew away. Several panels on the east side are also missing.   Alexander said 24 hours of continuous rain flooded the coliseum floor and offices.  Roof damage was reported to the Academic Building, Bilbo Hall, Marion Hall and Moody Hall.

"We have more than a foot of water in portions of our dressing area."  said Keith Daniels, athletic director and head football coach. "It is really a mess."

Water was also reported in the cafeteria, women's honor dorm, and there is an electrical problem in the Administration Building.  Contractors will have to assess the damage, if any, to the new $2.1 million administration building presently under construction

Building three on the Forrest Comity campus in Hattiesburg suffered roof damage but the campus is in good shape overall.

"We have no total dollar amount for damage," said Alexander, "but we know the coliseum roof will have to be replaced."

Two huge oak trees, on site when the school started in 1908, were toppled along with several other trees on the 300 acre campus.

Pearl River's dormitories were scheduled to open Monday afternoon.

The Pearl River and Coahoma football game, set for Thursday night here on campus. has been moved to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Dobie Holden Stadium.

River Hopes For First Win Against Winless Coahoma

POPLARVILLE—The Pearl River Wildcats are out to record their first win of the 1998 season when the winless Coahoma Tigers from Clarksdale arrive in Dobie Holden Stadium here Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. non-division contest.

The game was originally scheduled for Thursday, but with the unwelcomed arrival of Hurricane Georges to the Gulf Coast early this week, PRCC officials postponed the game.

Pearl River enters the game off a 40-7 loss to the Jones Bobcats in the South Division opener for both teams, while Coahoma was humiliated in its North Division opener by Northwest 80-7 in Clarksdale.

PRCC head coach Keith Daniels says his unit is in dire need of a win.

"We have to get ourselves out of the hole that we dug ourselves," Daniels said. "After losing four straight, it's easy for our players to start questioning themselves...are they able to win a football game. But we've steadily improved and I hope our players realize that two of the four teams we've played (Jones and Mississippi Delta) thus far are in the top 10 in the country. Even East Mississippi is an outstanding team, even though they haven't received any national recognition.

"But at the same time, we've got to rally ourselves to succeed. We haven't won a football game yet due to the fact that we haven't made the plays when we needed to," he continued. And it's a challenge for the coaching staff to keep our players with a sense of direction and drive. It's a very difficult to keep your team motivated."

Coahoma head coach Melvin Eubanks, an Alcorn State graduate, is in his seventh season in Clarksdale and has compiled a 5-54-1 record over the last six campaigns. The Tigers were winless last season, scoring only 91 points in 10 outings, while allowing their opposition 404 points.

Daniels said Eubanks is blessed with "good athletes and excellent team speed.

"Coahoma is at a point like us where they're struggling to win a game," he said. "After losing enough game your team can start questioning itself and lose its confidence of being able to win. They are a talented team that just can't get over the hump, but with the positives that team possesses, you have to respect them."

Eubanks was starting from scratch entering the 1998 season, as only one starter returned on offense and two on a defensive unit that finished third in the state in passing defense last year, giving up only 128.9 yards per game.

QB Harold Billings leads a Tiger offense that ranked 13th out of 14 community college teams in the state heading into last week's Northwest game. Coahoma averaged only 159 yards per game the first three weeks of the season. Billings, a 5-11, 190 freshman from of Shelby, was 10th in the state in individual passing, completing 12 of 26 aerials (46.2 percent) with 3 INTs for 109 yards and no TDs.

Billings' primary target is sophomore WR Charles Brown (6-2, 170) of Clarksdale and freshman WR Kerris Jackson (6-1, 200), who prepped with Billings at Shelby High School.

The Tigers have seemingly returned to form from last season in passing defense and were ranked seventh in the state heading into the Northwest game. Coahoma had given up only 309 passing yards and four TDs the first three weeks of the season. Opposing quarterbacks had completed only 57 of 103 passes.

Other defensive standouts for the Tigers include LBs Ivory Gilmore (5-11, 205) of Elaine and Reginald Bush (5-11, 205) of Cordova, Ala.; and DT LaKeith Irons (6-1, 300) of Clarkdale.

Daniels said the Wildcat coaching staff opted not to pick "Players of the Week" for the Jones game, but cited numerous players for their play.

Defensively, freshmen LBs Antonio Robinson of Slidell, La. (Salmen High) and Shondell Hill of Ridgely, Tenn., and freshman DB Patrick Walker of Columbia were singled for their play, while on the offensive side, freshmen QBs Derrell Burkett of Purvis and Sedrick Samuel of Brewton, Ala. Drew praise. Sophomore RB Cornelious Thornton of Blakely, Ga., who led all rushers in the game with his 7-carry, 83-yard performance, also played well.

Daniels also cited sophomore PK Nando Lopes of Carriere (Pearl River Central) and freshman P-WR Greg Mitchell of Picayune for their consistency thus far into the season.

"Both have been pretty steady performers for us and we'll need them to continue their consistency this Saturday," Daniels said. "When Greg showed-up here, he or the coaching staff didn't have any idea that he was going to be our punter, but he has shown that he can be an outstanding one. With more work in the offeseason, he could be one of the better punters in the state."

Mitchell punted six times for a 43-yard average against Jones and is the state's fourth-best punter averaging 39.4 yards on the season.

In PRCC's Jones game last Saturday, JCJC QB Tim Weathersby ran for three touchdowns and passed for another to lead the nationally-ranked Bobcats to the win.

Jones, which entered the game ranked No. 5 nationally, remained undefeated at 4-0 (1-0 in the division).

Daniels said the Bobcats' hard-nosed defensive play up front took its toll on his Wildcats.

"Coach (Parker) Dykes (JCJC coach) has really big people up front on his defense and they play a very physical, hard-nosed game," Daniels said. "It took a toll on our guys. Plus, when we had the opportunity to make something happen, we'd shoot ourselves in our own foot."

The Wildcats turned the ball over four times during the game, while the Bobcats saw only two TOs. Two of PRCC's miscues killed drives deep in JCJC territory.

Late in the third period, Thornton burst up the middle for a 67-yard gain to the JCJC eight. Three plays later, sophomore RB Anthony Davis of Shelby, N.C., plowed into the end zone behind the block of FB Michael Shelby of Petal with 1:48 left in the third. Lopes booted the PAT to make things 27-7.

Jones finished the game with 21 first downs to PRCC's 13, while generating 378 total offensive yards (144 rush, 234 pass). The Wildcats had their biggest total yardage total of the season with 257 (182 rush, 75 pass), but PRCC quarterbacks connected on only three of 16 aerials (2 interceptions), while Jones completed 16 of 28 (1 interception). Weathersby completed 14 of 25 for 212 yards.

McBride, the state's No. 1 leading rusher entering the game, was held under the century mark for the first time this season. The Quitman sophomore rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries, while Thornton managed a game-high 83 yards on seven totes.

In other community college football action last week, Holmes (3-1, 1-0) defeated Northeast Mississippi (0-4, 0-1) 20-0, Northwest Mississippi (4-0, 1-0) defeated Coahoma (0-4, 0-1) 80-7, Mississippi Delta (4-0, 1-0) defeated Itawamba (1-3, 0-1) 39-10, Copiah-Lincoln (2-2, 1-0) defeated East Central (1-3, 0-1) 20-14, Southwest Mississippi (3-1, 0-0) defeated East Mississippi (2-2, 0-0) 13-0, and Mississippi Gulf Coast (2-2, 1-0) upset defending state champion Hinds (2-2, 0-1) 30-21.

Jones Bombs River 40-7 In 1998 'Cat Fight

Wildcats Give Bobcats Big First-Half Plays In South Division Opener For Both Teams
 

POPLARVILLE—Sophomore quarterback Tim Weathersby ran for three touchdowns and passed for another to lead the nationally-ranked Jones Junior College Bobcats to a 40-7 win over the arch-rival Pearl River Wildcats in the annual South Division 'Cat Fight here Saturday in Dobie Holden Stadium.

Jones, which entered the game ranked No. 5 nationally, remains undefeated at 4-0 (1-0 in the division), while Pearl River fell to 0-4, 0-1. The contest opened each team's South Division schedules.

Fourth-year PRCC head coach Keith Daniels said Jones' hard-nosed defensive play up front took its toll on his Wildcats.

"Coach (Parker) Dykes (JCJC coach) has really big people up front on his defense and they play a very physical, hard-nosed game," Daniels said. "It took a toll on our guys. Plus, when we had the opportunity to make something happen, we'd shoot ourselves in our own foot."

The Wildcats turned the ball over four times during the game, while the Bobcats saw only two TOs. Two of PRCC's miscues killed drives deep in JCJC territory.

Wildcat freshman DB Patrick Walker of Columbia picked-off a Weathersby pass midway into the first quarter and returned it to midfield, but three plays later PRCC punted, setting-up Jones' first scoring drive of the afternoon. It took Jones nine plays to cover the 80 yards needed for the TD when sophomore RB Charles McBride ran it in from the five with 3:05 left in the opening quarter. Brent Chennault's PAT was blocked and returned to midfield by Walker, but Jones led 6-0.

Two series later, Weathersby hit WR Anthony Branch with a 43-yard TD pass, then connected with the Albany, Ga., speedster again for the two-point conversion to give JCJC a 14-0 lead with 10:21 left in the half.

With 54 seconds left in the half, Bobcat DB Alrekus Graves, a West Jones product, picked-off a PRCC pass by freshman QB Sedrick Samuel of Brewton, Ala., and returned it to the Wildcat two. Weathersby ran it in on first down. Chennault's PAT made it 21-zip with 45 seconds left in the half.

On Jones' second series of the second half, Weathersby capped an 14-play, 85-yard drive with his second rushing TD of the afternoon with at the 4:57 point of the third. Chennault converted on the PAT and things were 27-0 Jones' way.

On PRCC's ensuring series, sophomore RB Cornelious Thornton of Blakely, Ga., burst up the middle for a 67-yard gain to the JCJC eight. Three plays later, sophomore RB Anthony Davis of Shelby, N.C., plowed into the endzone behind the block of FB Michael Shelby of Petal with 1:48 left in the third. Sophomore PK Nando Lopes of Carriere (Pearl River Central) booted the PAT and things were 27-7.

Weathersby scored on another one-yard keeper with 13:44 left in the game. Chennault missed his third PAT of the afternoon, but JCJC led 33-7. On PRCC's ensuing series, Jones sophomore DB Mike White of Cottondale, Fla., picked-off a Samuel pass and put the Bobcats in business at the Wildcat 20. Four plays later, back-up QB Kevin Cole, a Bay Springs product who doubles as a wide receiver, hit freshman TE Dexter Drones of Mt. Olive with a 13-yard scoring pass. Chennault was true on the PAT and things were as they ended -- 40-7.

Jones finished the game with 21 first downs to PRCC's 13, while generating 378 total offensive yards (144 rush, 234 pass). The Wildcats had their biggest total yardage total of the season with 257 (182 rush, 75 pass), but PRCC quarterbacks connected on only three of 16 aerials (2 interceptions), while Jones completed 16 of 28 (1 interception). Weathersby completed 14 of 25 for 212 yards.

McBride, the state's leading rusher entering the game, was held under the century mark for the first time this season. The Quitman sophomore rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries, while PRCC's Thornton managed a game-high 83 yards on seven totes. Freshman WR Chris Marshall of Petal led Wildcat receivers with one catch for 44 yards.

Freshman P-WR Greg Mitchell of Picayune punted six times for a 43-yard average, while Chennault booted five times for a 37-yard average.

Jones continues South Division play next Saturday when it hosts Mississippi Gulf Coast in Ellisville, while PRCC's non-division match-up with winless Coahoma has been moved from Thursday night to Saturday due to Hurricane Georges (kickoff time to be announced).

In Thursday community college football action across the state, Holmes (3-1, 1-0) defeated Northeast Mississippi (0-4, 0-1) 20-0, Northwest Mississippi (4-0, 1-0) defeated Coahoma (0-4, 0-1) 80-7, Mississippi Delta (4-0, 1-0) defeated Itawamba (1-3, 0-1) 39-10, Copiah-Lincoln (2-2, 1-0) defeated East Central (1-3, 0-1) 20-14, and Southwest Mississippi (3-1, 0-0) defeated East Mississippi (2-2, 0-0) 13-0.

On Saturday, Mississippi Gulf Coast (2-2, 1-0) upset defending state champion Hinds (2-2, 0-1) 30-21.

River Comes Up Short Against Delta

Winless Wildcats Perform Gallantly, But Undefeated Trojans Prevail 19-10

MOORHEAD—Keith Daniels told his winless Pearl River College Wildcats not to hang their heads following Thursday night's 19-10 loss to undefeated Mississippi Delta -- their third straight of the 1998 season.

A week earlier, PRCC was definitely hanging its head following a disheartening 48-10 road loss to East Mississippi, but they arrived here on the MDCC campus apparently renewed and gave the No. 6-ranked Trojans all they could handle...even taking a short-lived 7-6 lead early in the second half.

"I just hope you all are as disappointed as I am," Daniels told his team just minutes after the final buzzer. "You were only two or three plays away from beating a nationally-ranked football team that has yet to loose a game. If you aren't disappointed, you should be."

But Daniels wasn't knocking his Wildcats, touting their progress since the previous week's lopsided loss.

"With all the progress we achieved in just a week's time, rest assured that we'll continue to improve and eventually we'll get the job done," he added. "Don't hang your heads. You all played hard and we had a chance to win. There's not reason for any finger pointing. I'm proud of you all."

Daniels particularly touted the Wildcat defense for "giving us a chance to win.

"From a defensive standpoint, all our guys played exceptionally well," he said. "They played as well as you could expect them to play. Not only did they provide us with ideal field position, but they produced points. I'm elated from that standpoint."

Statistically, Mississippi Delta held a 395 to 129 advantage in total yardage, but three Trojan fumbles were recovered by the Wildcats.

First-year Wildcat linebackers coach Deke Adams said he and defensive coordinator Mike Humphreys challenged their troops going into the game.

"We told them it was time to step up and account for themselves," Adams said. "And they apparently accepted the challenge. It was by far the best defensive game we've played all year and even though we made mistakes, we obviously made giant strides in just the last week.

"I couldn't be any prouder of our guys."

Pearl River had its chances early. On its second possession of the game, the Wildcats drove to the Trojans 32, but PK Nando Lopes of Carriere (Pearl River Central) was wide right on a 46-yard field goal with 11:56 left in the opening quarter.

Four series later, Trojan QB Rob Chapman engineered a nine-play, 65-yard drive highlighted by back-to-back 21-yard pass completions to TE Anthony Scott and RB Tekino George to set the stage for the game's first score -- a four-yard QB keeper with 13:12 left in the half. A barrage of Wildcats blocked the Brian Andrus' PAT, but the Trojans led 6-0.

On Delta's next series, Chapman's back-up, freshman Jerrico Provost, completed his first pass of the night with a 22-yarder to WR Shantaures Boatman down to the Wildcat 25. Three plays later, the Trojans coughed-up the ball and freshman LB Jay Livingston of Columbia recovered for the Wildcats to thwart the scoring threat.

The half ended 6-0.

Pearl River took its only lead of the game on the second half kickoff when Ridgely, Tenn., freshman Shondell Hill's bone-crushing hit on MDCC's return man resulted in a fumble and freshman Deshonzo Franklin of Columbia returned the ball 14 yards for the game-tying TD. Lopes' PAT gave the Wildcats a 7-6 edge with only 13 seconds gone in the third period.

But the Trojans retaliated quickly. Following the ensuing kickoff, Chapman engineered a 13-play, 58-yard scoring drive and converted a fourth and two situation with a keeper with at the Wildcat 39. Five plays later, the Baton Rouge, La., sophomore's TD strike to Scott was nullified via a penalty, but George ran it in on the next play from the two with 8:05 left in the period. The Wildcats also thwarted two Trojan attempts at a two-point conversion, but MDCC led 12-7.

Three plays later, Picayune freshman Greg Mitchell's punt saw Boatman fumble and freshman Nick Wilkes of Picayune recovered for the Wildcats at the Trojan 29. PRCC drove to the Delta eight in five plays, then Lopes clicked on a 24-yard field goal with 3:32 left in the period to tighten things to 12-10.

With 11:13 left in the game, Chapman's five-yard keeper capped a four-play, 57-yard scoring drive. Andrus' PAT made it 19-10.

PRCC drove to the Delta 41, but DB Eugene Liger intercepted Purvis freshman QB Derrell Burkett's pass at the Trojan 15. MDCC killed the remaining five minutes of the game with 10 rushing plays.
 

"We're still struggling offensively, but still we made improvement there against Delta," Daniels said. "This was the kind of performance that hopefully we will build on and keep improving."

Chapman and RB John Jones paced Delta's 222-yard rushing attack with 68 and 66 yards, respectively, while Trojan QBs connected on 14 of 20 passes (no interceptions) for 173 yards. Chapman completed 12 of 16 for 139 yards.

Pearl River finished with 72 rushing and 57 passing yards. Freshman RB Jimmie Rax of Alexandria, La., led the Wildcats with 37 yards on 12 carries, while freshmen QBs Derrell Burkett of Purvis and Jonathon Lott of Picayune connected on six of 21 passes (one interception).

MDCC had 21 first downs to PRCC's five, while Mitchell punted nine time for a 37-yard average, including two for 45 yards and a 49-yarder.

In other Thursday JuCo football action, Hinds defeated Coahoma 48-7 in its first North Division game of the season, East Mississippi defeated East Central 12-7, Northwest defeated Copiah-Lincoln 45-6, Holmes defeated Mississippi Gulf Coast 43-20, and Southwest defeated Itawamba 28-13. Jones, Pearl River's next foe September 26 (Saturday), hosts Northeast this Saturday in Ellisville.

The annual 'Cat Fight between PRCC and Jones is set for 1 p.m. in Dobie Holden Stadium on the PRCC campus in Poplarville. The game will open both team's 1998 South Division schedules.

Wildcats Facing Biggest Task Of 1998 Season With Thursday Visit To Delta

Starters Hogan and Wash To Miss This Week's Game Due To Injuries
 

POPLARVILLE—Pearl River Community College head football coach Keith Daniels says undefeated Mississippi Delta -- his Wildcats' third foe of the 1998 season -- is "the best team we've played thus far."

Simply stated, the winless Wildcats will have their work cut out, as they enter the game off a stunning 48-10 non division loss to East Mississippi last week in Scooba. PRCC opened the season with a 28-12 loss to North Division rival Itawamba in Poplarville.

"Mississippi Delta's personnel is as good, if not the best, as anybody's in the league," Daniels said of the Trojans, who avenged their 27-0 state championship loss to Hinds last November with a convincing 26-16 win over the Eagles this past Thursday in Raymond.

"They've played extremely well in their two previous games and have a very dominating type of defense. Coach (Jim) Southward has a lot of experience on that side of the ball and they have big play people on the offensive side in their wide receiver (6-1, 195 pound sophomore Shantaures Boatman) and quarterback (6-1, 180 pound sophomore Rob Chapman). Plus they have very capable running backs."

Mississippi Delta, 1998's pre-season pick to win the North Division, finished the 1997 season with a division title and No. 10 ranking in the national JuCo polls. They entered this year as the No. 16 ranked team nationally.

Daniels says his Wildcats must establish offensive consistency against the powerful Trojans if they are to have any chance of winning.

"That (offensive inconsistency) is the root of our problem. In last week's game, our defense gave up big plays and a lot of points, but it all boils down to our offense," he explained. "Our offense forces our defense to play more snaps than they need to and thus they're forced into bad situations. By the middle of the second quarter against East Mississippi, our defense was exhausted."

Last week's EMCC game was scoreless until the final seconds of the first quarter when Lion RB Carl Fair burst for his first of four TDs with a 55 yard sprint around right end. Fair, who finished the night with 228 yards of total offense (106 rush, 122 receiving), scored two more times in the second quarter and once in the third.

"Fair is a big play player, but we hurt ourselves more than he hurt us," Daniels said.

The Wildcats didn't score until late in the third quarter when PK Nando Lopes of Carriere (Pearl River Central) booted a 25 yard field goal, then freshman QB Sedrick Samuel of Brewton, Ala., scored on an 18 yard run in the fourth period.

Delta, who opened the season with a 35-7 win over Mississippi Gulf Coast, put on a superb performance against Hinds. Its defensive line appeared to be in mid season form as it harassed Eagle QB Fred Ishman all night long. Chapman ran for two TDs and connected with Boatman for another -- a 52 yarder highlighted by a crushing block from sophomore WR Ken Lucas (6-4, 225). Freshman RB Manfred Thurman (5-10, 218) added a one yard TD to cap a MDCC drive that chewed up almost eight minutes of the final period.

Southward is entering his fifth season in Moorhead and has compiled a 28-15 record.

PRCC will again utilize multi-quarterbacks -- all freshmen -- in this week's contest, while two starters will be sidelined due to injuries. Sophomore DE Victory Hogan of Purvis and freshman RB Nick Wash of Picayune will miss the game due to knee injuries.

Freshman QB Derrell Burkett of Purvis twisted his ankle in the East Miss loss, but should be ready to go by Thursday.

"We're still in limbo as far as a starting quarterback is concerned, but they're all gaining experience and continue to improve," Daniels said. "We've just got to eliminate mistakes and establish some consistency on the offensive side."

"Players of the Week" for the East Mississippi game as selected by the PRCC coaching staff:

OFFENSE -- Freshman RB Jimmie Rax of Alexandria, La. (72 yards on 12 carries).

DEFENSE -- Sophomore DB Delvin Peters of Foxworth (West Marion, 5 solo tackles, 3 assists, 2 tackles for losses).

SPECIAL TEAMS -- Sophomore RB Cornelious Thornton of Blakely, Ga.

DEFENSIVE LINE -- Sophomore DE Chris Gistorb of Alexandria, La. (2 solo tackles, 3 assists, 1 recovered fumble).

OFFENSIVE LINE -- Sophomore OT Chris Johnson of Grand Bay, Ala.

This year's game marks the 39th meeting between the two schools in a rivalry that dates back to 1934 according to PRCC archives. The Trojans won that match up 13-6 and the following season 14-7, but the teams didn't resume play until 1946 when PRCC won 14-0. Nineteen fifty-two's 67-0 victory over the Trojans ranks fifth in all-time Wildcat victories by points.

PRCC and Delta haven't played since 1995, but the Trojans have won three of the last four meetings. PRCC won 42-13 in the final regular season game of the 1992 season to ice a perfect 10-0 record, but MDCC then reeled off three straight victories. The Trojans won 1993's match up 35-28 and eventually won one of its five state titles that year. MDCC also won 7-5 in 1994 and the last meeting 34-28.

Pearl River's 14 Mississippi JuCo championships is unprecedented in the Mississippi JuCo ranks. The Wildcats last won an overall title in 1976.

A 7 p.m. kickoff is set for the PRCC-MDCC match up in Moorhead.

MISSISSIPPI JUCO SCORES / WEEK NO. 2
 
 

Miss. Gulf Coast 16	Coahoma 0
Copiah-Lincoln 14	Northeast 13
East Central 21	Itawamba 20
East Mississippi 48	Pearl River 10
Mississippi Delta 26	Hinds 16
Jones 14	Holmes 10
Northwest 13	Southwest 3

Wildcats Lose BIG To Lions 48-10
 

SCOOBA—Pearl River Community College fell to 0-2 here Thursday with a stunning 48-10 non-division football loss to East Mississippi.

The Wildcats, coming off a 28-12 loss to Itawamba in September 3's season opener, hung tough for nearly the entire first quarter, but Coach Tom Goode's Lions reeled-off seven touchdowns -- four by former Starkville High standout Carl Fair -- on their ensuing nine series to take the lopsided victory.

EMCC, which entered the game off a 16-9 loss to defending state champion Hinds in its season opener, improved to 1-1 overall.

Wildcat head coach Keith Daniels said the Lions' extreme physical play wore his team down.

"And we didn't help our defensive people out with our ineffective offense. It was just one of those situations that we were whipped by a good football team," Daniels said. "With our inconsistent offense, it got to the point that our defense was completely worn down."

Fair, a multi-talented sophomore running back who finished the night with 228 total offensive yards (106 rush, 122 receiving), scored on runs of 55 and 36 yards and had TD receptions for 49 and 73 yards from freshman quarterback Timmy Lawson. Fair's first score came with 28 seconds left in the first period, then he added a three more TDs in the second and third periods.

Some five minutes into the second quarter, freshman WR-P Greg Mitchell of Picayune had a punt blocked from the back of the Wildcat endzone and Lion LB Tim Johnson snatched the careening ball in midair at the 10 and scooted in for EMCC's third score of the night.

East Miss' final score came with 5:29 left in the third when RB Jo Jo Minor scored from the one after the Lions recovered a fumble at the Wildcat 17. Lion PK Sean McMillan converted on four of six PATs (one blocked by DB Patrick Walker of Columbia), while Fair added a two-point conversion run.

"We knew going in that we were facing a group with great team speed," Daniels added. "We didn't do the things we needed to do on either side of the ball. Fair is a great player that runs behind a good, physical group up front. They just kept pounding away at us and it reached a point that our defense was totally exhausted."

The Wildcats finally got on the scoreboard when PK Nando Lopes of Carriere (Pearl River Central) capped a seven-play, 63-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal with 45 seconds left in the third. With 14:02 left in the game, sophomore DE Chris Gistorb of Alexandria, La., recovered a Lion fumble at the Lion 40. Eight plays later, freshman QB Sedrick Samuel of Brewton, Ala., scored on an 18-yard run. Lopes added the PAT.

"From a positive side, at least we resolved some things and found out what we could do well and hopefully we can build on that," Daniels said. "Our players played hard and hung in there, but their continuous physical play just completely wore out guys out. We've got to put this one behind us and get ready for Mississippi Delta next week."

East Mississippi finished the night with 18 first downs (nine via run, five via pass, four via penalty) and 453 total offensive yards (232 rush, 221 pass). Lion QBs completed seven of 15 passes with no interceptions. EMCC drew 12 penalties for 95 yards, while PRCC had six for 50.

The Wildcats finished with 10 first downs (six via run, two via pass, two via penalty) and 172 total yards (85 rush, 87 pass). Freshman RB Jimmie Rax of Alexandria, La., paced the Wildcats with 72 yards on 12 carries, while Samuel had 32 yards on three totes and completed one of six passes for 50 yards to freshman WR Chris Marshall of Petal late in the third quarter.

Freshman QB Derrell Burkett completed three of seven passes for 37 yards -- all to former his former Purvis High teammate WR Desmond Bolar. Mitchell punted eight times for a 37-yard average, but had impressive boots of 51, 48, and 46. His partially blocked punt went for only 10 yards.

In other Thursday night JuCo action, Mississippi Delta -- PRCC's foe next Thursday -- trimmed host Hinds 26-16 Thursday in Raymond, while Copiah-Lincoln defeated Northeast 14-13 in Booneville, East Central defeated Itawamba 21-20 in Decatur, and Northwest defeated Southwest 13-3 in Summit. This Saturday, Mississippi Gulf Coast takes on Coahoma in Clarksdale and Jones takes on Holmes in Goodman.

A 7 p.m. kickoff is set for the PRCC-Mississippi Delta contest next Thursday in Moorhead.

Inconsistencies Doom Wildcats;
Fall 28-12 To Indians In Opener

(Color photos courtesy of Picayune Item—photo by Rob Sigler)

POPLARVILLE—Pearl River Community College was its own worst enemy Thursday in its 1998 football opener against Itawamba.
Mental mistakes were costly, resulting in two easy ICC touchdowns and the Wildcats fell 28-12 here in Dobie Holden Stadium.
PRCC head coach Keith Daniels admitted as much.

"Defensively, we played well enough to win, but we gave up those easy scores and it was an uphill climb from there. That's not an easy chore with a relatively young team," he said. "Plus we didn't get the job done in critical situations. You have to make the plays when you have to. We had our chances, but we didn't capitalize on them."

On ICC's first series of the game, blown secondary coverage left wide receiver Shalando Jones wide open for quarterback Jeffery Aaron's 68-yard bomb. Jason West booted the point after and the Indians led 7-0 with 11:07 left in the first quarter.

Itawamba had four more possessions in the first half. Three resulted in punts, while the Wildcats held the Indians on downs on ICC's final series of the half.

A critical miscue in the Wildcat kicking game resulted in more points for the Indians. On PRCC's second series of the second half, a low snap to punter/wide receiver Greg Mitchell of Picayune saw the freshman's knee touch the turf at the Wildcat 27, giving ICC possession. Indian freshman running back Chad Wright got back-to-back totes -- the first for 24 yards to the Wildcat three, then the second for a three yard TD. West's PAT made it 14-0 with 9:44 left in the third.

"Our kicking game was okay at time, but that bad snap was costly," Daniels added. "You constantly stress the importance of special teams. That mistake cost us seven points."

But Pearl River's young defense rose to the occasion on ICC's next possession when freshman linebacker Shondell Hill of Ridgely, Tenn., pounded Wright, who fumbled and freshman nose tackle Daniel Hart of Picayune recovered at the Indian 30. Eight plays later, freshman running back Nick Wash of Picayune ran it in from the five. Sophomore place kicker Nando Lopes of Carriere (Pearl River Central) missed the PAT, but PRCC closed to gap to eight -- 14-6 -- with 2:35 left in the third.

Aaron engineered another ICC scoring drive midway in the fourth. Starting at midfield, it took only three plays for Wright to get his second TD of the night on a 17 yard run. West's PAT made it 21-6.

On PRCC's ensuing possession, Wash rambled for 63 yards around right end, but coughed up the ball and the Indians recovered at their own 15. Eight plays later, the Aaron-to-Jones combo clicked again -- this time for 35 yards and a score. West's PAT made it 28-6 with 5:03 left.

The Wildcats got one last shot when freshman wide reciever/punt returner Chris Marshall took an ICC punt 38 yards to set things up freshman quarterback Jonathon Lott of Picayune, who saw his first action of the night on the series. Starting at the ICC 15, Lott carried for 20 yards on first down to the ICC five, then sneaked in for the score two plays later. Lott kept on the two point attempt, but was stopped short.

"This was a learning experience for our team. Now we need out leaders to step forward and set examples and eventually we'll get it all together," Daniels said. "Overall, it was a good effort. We just need our freshmen to respond when the chips are down. You have to hand it to Coach (Jay) Miller's team. They put the pressure on us when it counted."

Wright led all rushers in the contest with 139 yards on 17 carries, while Aaron, who rambled for 20 yards on 13 totes (sacked for a minus 15 yards) completed 14 of 27 passes for 224 yards, including three completions to Jones for 118 yards.

ICC finished the night with 411 total yards.

Pearl River was paced by Wash's 87 yards on 11 carries, followed by freshman Jimmie Rax of Alexandria, La., who had 45 yards on eight carries. Sophomore Anthony Davis of Shelby, N.C., separated his left shoulder early in the first half, but managed to return to the game and rush for 32 yards on seven carries.

Wildcat quarterbacks completed only three of 16 passes for 38 yards. The longest was a 25-yarder from Sedrick Samuel of Brewton, Ala., to Marshall. Freshman QB Derrell Burkett of Purvis also saw action.

Mitchell averaged 42 yards on six punts.

PRCC returns to action next Thursday with a road trip to East Mississippi in Scooba. The non division game will start at 7 p.m. Itawamba, on the other hand, faces East Central in Decatur in another non division match up.