EMCC Lions fall, 41-21, at No. 10 Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2025 season opener
The new-look Lions of East Mississippi Community dropped a 41-21 road decision to preseason 10th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast during Thursday’s MACCC football season opener played at A.L. May Memorial Stadium.
PERKINSTON – The new-look Lions of East Mississippi Community dropped a 41-21 road decision to preseason 10th-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast during Thursday's MACCC football season opener played at A.L. May Memorial Stadium.
Falling in their third straight season-opening contest, the 2025 EMCC Lions entered the new season with only 13 players who saw action during last year's 5-4 campaign.
Both teams scored on their first two offensive drives of the contest before the Bulldogs forced the game's initial punt and proceeded on a 12-play, 92-yard drive to take their first lead (20-14) of the game midway through the second quarter. They never trailed again while returning from halftime to score the first two touchdowns of the second half while mounting a 20-point (34-14) advantage halfway through the third quarter.
The back-and-forth scoring of the season opener began with EMCC grabbing an initial 7-0 lead on Rodge Waldrop's 16-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Jackson at the 9:29 mark of the first quarter. Gulf Coast answered three minutes later with Landon Varnes' 3-yard quarterback sneak up the middle to put the home team on the board, though a low snap on the PAT attempt kept the score at 7-6.
The next touchdown exchange started with John Peterson's 2-yard scoring burst with a minute left in the opening quarter that capped a 12-play, 84-yard EMCC drive and extended the visitors' lead to 14-6. Gulf Coast quickly responded on the second play of the second quarter. Varnes escaped the Lions' third-down pass pressure and found Mason Beverly for a 62-yard catch and run that again made it a one-point contest (14-13).
The Bulldogs' go-ahead score came at the 7:04 mark of the second quarter on Varnes' 5-yard touchdown toss to Tyler Henderson.
Following intermission, the second half primarily belonged to Gulf Coast with running back Alan Woods rushing for three touchdowns within a 15-minute span. On the heels of scoring runs of 14 and two yards during the third quarter, Woods' 45-yard touchdown jaunt at the 13:15 mark of the final quarter provided the game's final 20-point margin.
Statistically, the Bulldogs outgained EMCC, 547-398, in total offense, sparked by Varnes' 28-of-41, 426-yard passing effort on the night. His quarterback counterpart for the Lions, Waldrop was 24-of-36 through the air for 240 yards and a touchdown. The Georgia State bounceback's top target in the contest was Ole Miss bounceback receiver Noreel White with 11 receptions for 101 yards. White's catch count marked the most pass receptions in a game by an EMCC player since 2019 NJCAA All-American and current Kansas City Chiefs receiver Jason Brownlee posted three straight efforts of double-digit grabs for the Lions six years ago.
The Lions held a slight advantage over Gulf Coast on the ground, 158-121, headlined by Gavin Griffin's 91 rushing yards on 22 carries, including his 2-yard touchdown burst within the final minute of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs' individual statistical leaders in the opener were Woods with a game-high 98 rushing yards and his three second-half scores on just 12 attempts. Henderson was Varnes' top target on the evening with 10 catches for a game-best 186 receiving yards and his go-ahead touchdown grab in the second quarter.
Coach Buddy Stephens' EMCC Lions are slated to kick off their five-game 2025 home football slate by playing host to the Hinds Eagles on Thursday (Sept. 4). Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus. The following Thursday (Sept. 11), the Lions will entertain the preseason third-ranked and reigning MACCC champion Rangers of Northwest Mississippi in Scooba.
