Decatur, MS—In a thrilling matchup between two 2-1 teams, East Central Community College (ECCC) and Pearl River Community College (PRCC), Pearl River edged out East Central 23-20 with a dramatic field goal as time expired. The Warriors started fast matching their total first half points of the season, but a second half surge by the Wildcats pushed them over the edge.

First Quarter: East Central Strikes First
The game started with strong defensive plays from both sides, but East Central found the end zone first. With less than a minute left in the quarter, Karl Ligon punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, capping a 5-play, 25-yard drive that took over five minutes. However, the momentum was slightly stalled when Cade Mangum's extra point attempt failed, leaving the score at 6-0 in favor of ECCC.

East Central's defense, led by standout players like Donnie Smith and Kristian Dillard, stifled Pearl River's offense, allowing them to gain only a few yards on their drives and preventing any scoring opportunities in the opening period.

Second Quarter: ECCC Extends the Lead
East Central continued to build on its early success in the second quarter, increasing their lead to 13-0 after a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Keshawn Henley. The touchdown was the result of a 7-play, 43-yard drive that took just under three minutes off the clock. Mangum made the extra point this time, giving ECCC a comfortable lead.

Pearl River struggled to find any offensive rhythm during the first half. Their passing attack, led by Ian Gonzalez, failed to generate significant gains, and their run game was consistently held in check. Pearl River's offense was hampered by East Central's pressure, with Keoni Denny leading the defensive charge for ECCC with a sack.

Despite Pearl River's challenges, their defense kept them within striking distance, holding East Central scoreless for the remainder of the quarter. ECCC's Landon Sims connected with receivers like Josh Palmer and Karl Ligon, but the Pearl River secondary stepped up to prevent further damage.

Third Quarter: Pearl River Roars Back
The third quarter belonged to the Wildcats, as they made adjustments coming out of halftime. Early in the quarter, Ian Gonzalez broke through with a 27-yard touchdown run, capping off an 8-play, 77-yard drive that took just over three minutes. With the extra point from Morgan Craft, Pearl River cut the deficit to 13-7.

Just 15 seconds later, Pearl River took the lead. A turnover by East Central gave Pearl River excellent field position, and they capitalized immediately with a touchdown on a 5-yard run. After another successful extra point by Craft, Pearl River was suddenly ahead 14-13, shifting the momentum in their favor.

East Central responded with a crucial drive of their own. Landon Sims connected with Josh Palmer for a 25-yard touchdown pass, regaining the lead for ECCC at 20-14 after a successful extra point by Mangum. This drive, which spanned 65 yards in 11 plays, kept ECCC in the game as the third quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter: Pearl River Seals the Victory
The fourth quarter saw Pearl River's kicker, Morgan Craft, emerge as the hero. Craft nailed a 38-yard field goal early in the quarter, cutting East Central's lead to 20-17. Pearl River's defense held East Central in check, forcing them to punt on consecutive drives.

With just over three minutes left in the game, Pearl River orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with another field goal from Craft, this time from 34 yards out, tying the game at 20-20.

East Central had one last chance to take the lead, but Sims' pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by A.J. Prim. Pearl River, already in plus territory, ran out the last two minutes, leaving no extra time on the clock for a possession change. As time expired, Craft drilled the field goal, giving Pearl River the 23-20 victory.

East Central Community College head football coach Jonathan Webster reflected on the team's performance after their narrow 23-20 loss to Pearl River Community College, emphasizing both their initial energy and the challenges they faced as the game progressed:

"I thought we came out with a lot of energy. Now, we still have some first-half woes. Yeah. And that's what you have to do when things aren't going great in the course of playing; you have to keep playing and finish that thing out."

Coach Webster highlighted the progress of freshman Prince Cottonham, whose contributions stood out: "And you mentioned Cottonham. So it's good to see that freshman come into the game. He's been steadily coming along week in and week out, and to see him go out there and make a play, I was excited for him to get that opportunity."

Despite the positives, Webster acknowledged the team's struggles with momentum: "When you look at it and find yourself with that downward momentum shift, you've got to find a way to stop that. And we didn't do that tonight. And they took advantage of it. Hats off to them for staying in the game and continuing to compete and fight."

"We did not execute well in the second. We got to go to work. We're going to put this behind us, try to get some guys healed up, and come back to practice on Sunday, start preparing, and get a good plan together for Hinds to come out and try to get a win going into the bye week."

Key Plays and Stats

• Pearl River's Ian Gonzalez was a standout performer with 80 rushing yards on 10 carries, including the game-changing 27-yard touchdown run. 
• East Central's Landon Sims completed 9 of 17 passes for 113 yards, including a critical 25-yard touchdown to Josh Palmer. Despite his efforts, Pearl River's defense managed to contain him in crucial moments.
• Pearl River kicker Morgan Craft was the game's star, hitting all three field goal attempts, including the game-winner as time expired.
• East Central's defense, led by Donnie Smith with 12 total tackles, put up a valiant effort but could not contain Pearl River's late surge. Smith was all over the field, making crucial tackles and keeping his team in the game until the final whistle.

Up Next 

The Warriors will travel to Raymond, MS, to take on Hinds Community College next Thursday, September 26, at 6:30.