The temperatures Thursday night at Bailey Stadium were cool, but the East Central Community College Warrior offense was boiling hot. East Central closed out the 2023 football season with a dominant performance against the Wildcats of Pearl River Community College, with a 42-14 victory. 

The Wildcats began the scoring for the night with a 24-yard touchdown run. The point after try for Pearl River went through the uprights to make it 7-0. The Warriors responded with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Chris Tucker to Hayden Jackson. Cade Mangum kicked the extra point, and it was good. The score was tied at 7 at the end of the first.

Late in the second quarter, Tucker sprinted to paydirt with an 8-yard run. Mangum once again tacked on the extra point. East Central led 14-7 heading to the locker room. Early in the third quarter the Warriors put the pedal to the metal and started a scoring barrage. Devontae Causey took a 38-yard run to the house; PAT was good. Four minutes later in the third quarter, Causey found the endzone once again on a five-yard scamper. Mangum was a busy man due to the high-powered Warrior attack. He contributed another successful PAT. The Warriors extended their lead to 28-7. Late in the 3rd quarter the Wildcats scored on a 2-yard run and added a PAT, and after three complete quarters, the score was East Central 28, Pearl River 14.

The scoring barrage for the Warriors continued in the 4th quarter. Tucker found Ethan Howard for an 18-yard touchdown connection. Mangum made a familiar trip on the field and kicked it through the uprights. Tucker capped off the scoring for the Warriors with a second rushing touchdown of the game. The quarterback darted to the end zone on a 27-yard run. Mangum completed the night with his 6th PAT, to put an exclamation point on the night for the Warriors.

The Warriors finish the season with a 4-5 record and 2-4 in division play. 

Story by ECCC student, Ben Land