Special teams play secures EMCC’s 7-6 home-opening victory over visiting Hinds

SCOOBA – In their home season opener, the Lions of East Mississippi Community College made a 7-6 first-half lead hold up while their game-saving special teams play secured the one-point victory over the visiting Hinds Eagles during the final moments of Thursday's MACCC interdivisional contest played at EMCC's Sullivan-Windham Field.

Following EMCC's opening drive that ended at midfield but pinned the visitors at their own 1-yard line courtesy of Wyatt Salter's well-placed, 49-yard punt, Hinds proceeded to march 99 yards on nine plays for the game's first score. Quarterback Jaylon Ruffin supplied the points with a 10-yard keeper into the end zone at the 8:17 mark. Ryan Harvey's attempted PAT kick was then blocked by EMCC freshman Kindal Moorehead.

The Lions were unable to convert an initial opportunity to get on the board later in the first quarter when they had first-and-goal from Hinds' 7-yard line. Sophomore running back Gavin Griffin couldn't reach pay dirt on a pair of rush attempts from a yard out and Rodge Waldrop's fourth-and-goal pass attempt fell incomplete.

After an exchange of punts to begin the second quarter, Central Arkansas transfer quarterback Eric McGehee engineered a six-play, 48-yard scoring drive for EMCC that was capped by Griffin's 2-yard touchdown burst with 7:04 remaining in the opening half. Hayden Houpt's successful extra-point try would ultimately decide the game's final score.

Following intermission, Hinds again opened the half on a positive note by advancing to EMCC's 12-yard line before Ruffin recovered a fumble on a fourth-and-4 play. EMCC's McGehee also struggled with turnovers in the third quarter by first fumbling in the red zone and then being intercepted by Kevin Beckham during the Lions' next offensive series.

As the one-point contest transitioned into an eventful final 15 minutes of play, both teams compiled drives of 60-plus yards only to have them go unrewarded because of errant field goal attempts. Hinds' 13-play, 62-yard drive ended three minutes into the fourth quarter with Harvey's missed 36-yard effort. The Lions also couldn't capitalize on the scoring opportunity nearly four minutes later at the 8:19 mark when Houpt's 34-yarder misfired following a seven-play, 64-yard EMCC drive.

After the Lions' defense came up big once again by forcing another turnover on downs, they had another opportunity to add to their lead on the game's next possession. While staying on the ground to run some clock, they relied heavily on Griffin to advance to the Hinds 11-yard line. On his seventh carry of the drive, however, Griffin's fumble was recovered by the Eagles with under two minutes left in the contest.

The lowest-scoring EMCC football game during the Buddy Stephens coaching era (since 2008) came down to one final special teams effort by the Lions. Though hampered by three consecutive lost-yardage plays after reaching EMCC's 7-yard line during the game's final minute of play, Hinds' subsequent drive following EMCC's second lost fumble of the contest went 66 yards on eight plays and ended up at the Lions' 18-yard line. On Harvey's resulting 35-yard field goal try, the Lions penetrated through the left side of the line with Davier Bishop receiving credit for the game-saving kick block with added pressure by Donald Passmore III. The previous lowest-scoring EMCC football contest during the Stephens coaching era had been the Lions' 10-9 national title game win over Garden City CC in the 2018 NJCAA e-TeamSponsor Football National Championship Game played in Pittsburg, Kansas.

The 1-1 EMCC Lions are set to begin their MACCC North Division slate by playing host to reigning conference champion and third-ranked Northwest Mississippi on Thursday (Sept. 11) on the Scooba campus. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field.