Freshman quarterback Holman Edwards threw three touchdown passes and the Warrior defense pitched its second straight shutout as East Central Community College picked up a 35-0 MACJC South Division football win over the Pearl River Wildcats Thursday, Sept. 19, at Bailey Stadium in Decatur.
It is the first time in 43 years an East Central football team has held opponents scoreless in back-to-back weeks, the last time coming during the 1976 season.
With the win, the Warriors improved to 3-1 overall on the season and 2-0 in MACJC South Division play. The Pearl River Wildcats fell to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the division.
East Central struck quickly in the win with three first quarter touchdowns. The Warriors first drive covered seven yards in just one play, as Edwards (French Camp Academy) hit sophomore tight end Ray Thomas (Senatobia) with a shuffle pass for the score. Sophomore safety Anthony Thomas (Stringer) set up the short drive with the recovery of a Pearl River fumble on the previous play.
A little over a minute later, East Central was in the end zone again. Sophomore cornerback Fred McGee (Greene County) returned an interception 37 yards untouched to give the Warriors a 14-0 lead with 11:11 to play in the first quarter.
Pearl River punted on its ensuring possession and East Central needed just three plays to make the score 21-0. Edwards threw his second touchdown pass of the first quarter as sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Zachery (Dayton, Ohio, Thurgood Marshall) took the screen pass behind the line of scrimmage and did the rest on his own for a 56-yard catch and run.
East Central wouldn't find the end zone again until 3:07 to play in the third quarter when Edwards threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to freshman tight end Joshua Pedyfoot (Vicksburg) from 11 yards out.
The final score of the game came courtesy of the Warrior defense, which has been dominating the past two weeks. Pearl River lined up to punt from its own 44-yard line and the snap sailed over the punter's head at the 30 and rolled into the end zone. The sprinting 288-pound defensive lineman Alvin Dempsey (Port St. Joe, Fla.) got to the ball first for the East Central touchdown and the final score of 35-0.
Defensively, East Central had several big stops on the night. Three times during the game the Warriors stopped Pearl River on fourth down attempts. Two other drives ended in forced fumbles. A sack by sophomore linebacker Ronnie Thomas (Clinton) forced a fumble recovered by Dempsey, and freshman defensive end Devonta Stancel (Natchez) forced and recovered another fumble. Freshman corner Desmond Williams (Forsythe, Ga., Mary Persons) had an interception and seven tackles. Freshman linebacker Trenton Ladner (Hancock), sophomore linebacker Payton Rogers (Forest), and freshman nose guard Joshua Ratcliff (Belle Rose, La., Assumption) were all in on sacks.
Offensively, Edwards finished 10 of 12 passing for 79 yards and the three scores. Freshman running back JD Martin (Wetumpka, Ala.) had 60 yards rushing on 11 carries, and sophomore Chandler Roberts (Kemper County) had 52 yards on eight carries.
Freshman kicking specialist Robens Beauplan (Lehigh Acres, Fla., Riverdale) was good on all five point after attempts in the contest, keeping him perfect on the season. He also averaged 41 yards on six punts, including a long of 56 yards and three inside the 20.
It was Be Our Guest Night in Bailey Stadium as hundreds of area high school students were in attendance as guests of East Central. The Newton County High School Cougar Pride Marching Band performed at halftime.
East Central now begins what is most likely the most difficult stretch of games in the NJCAA this season. The Warriors will face five straight opponents currently ranked in the NJCAA Top 20, including three in the Top 10. It begins with a trip to defending national champion and No. 5 ranked East Mississippi on Thursday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field in Scooba.
All East Central home and away football games can be heard on WKOZ "Cruisin" 98.3 radio or at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media. Live stream video of all home games as well as links to the live stream of road opponents can be found at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.