EMCC Lions bounce back in division play with decisive 52-10 road win on Coahoma’s Homecoming

CLARKSDALE – The Lions of East Mississippi Community College rebounded in MACCC North Division play with a decisive 52-10 road win over Coahoma during the Tigers' Saturday afternoon homecoming contest played at James E. Miller Stadium.

On the heels of their 34-24 road loss to division rival Itawamba the previous week, the Lions improved their composite record to 19-5 in bounce-back games played following in-season losses during Buddy Stephens' EMCC head coaching career. Earlier this season, EMCC rebounded from a season-opening 41-21 road setback to now-No. 4 Mississippi Gulf Coast by holding on for a narrow 7-6 home win over now-No. 14 Hinds in Week 2.

Receiving the starting assignment under center in his collegiate playing debut, EMCC freshman quarterback Trey Irving III registered 300 yards of total offense and was responsible for four touchdowns against Coahoma in place of injured starting signal-called Rodge Waldrop. The 2024 MHSAA Class 5A Player of the Year out of Gautier High School, Irving completed 13-of-15 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns through the air while also rushing 11 times for 134 yards and a pair of scores. Irving's impressive debut statistics came in bounce-back fashion as well after throwing an interception on his first collegiate pass attempt to open the contest.

After the home-standing Tigers failed to capitalize on EMCC's game-opening turnover when Coahoma kicker Andrew Harrison hit the left upright on a 51-yard field goal attempt, the Lions proceeded to draw first blood on Gavin Griffin's 1-yard rush. The six-play, 66-yard scoring drive put the visitors on top, 6-0, at the 8:25 mark of the first quarter. The PAT kick attempt was unsuccessful.

The visitors closed out the opening quarter of play with an extensive scoring drive followed by a special teams spark that helped build their early advantage. Following Irving's 1-yard scoring run that capped a 13-play, 66-yard drive with 1:47 left in the quarter, EMCC capitalized on Montrell Dortch's block of a Coahoma punt to score on the second play of the second quarter when Irving connected with Ole Miss bounce-back receiver Noreel White on a 22-yard scoring pass. After a Coahoma penalty on the PAT kick attempt, the Lions promptly converted the ensuing two-point conversion on Griffin's rush to move ahead, 21-0.

Later in the quarter, the two teams traded made field goals to maintain EMCC's three-touchdown margin. Hayden Houpt's 28-yard kick at the 8:25 mark was answered by Harrison's 29-yard effort with 3:44 remaining in the half to put the Tigers on the board.

The Lions increased their lead to 31-3 by halftime on Irving's 10-yard touchdown toss to White with under a minute left in the opening half.

Following intermission, the Tigers scored their lone touchdown of the game by capping a 10-play, 69-yard drive to open the second half on Jabari Watson's 23-yard scoring pass to Luke Bolin at the 10:17 mark of the third quarter.

EMCC responded on its next drive by exclusively staying on the ground to march 62 yards on five rushes, highlighted by Griffin's 43-yard gain down the right sideline to the 3-yard line. Two plays later, the sophomore back punched it in from a yard out to lengthen the lead to 38-10 with 8:26 left in the third quarter.

Following an empty possession for Coahoma, the Lions went back to their rushing attack with Irving scampering 40 yards to the end zone to expand the margin to 45-10 at the 4:07 mark.

As the third quarter came to a close after EMCC's defense forced another Coahoma three-and-out possession, the Lions reached the MACCC's mandated 38-point, mercy-rule margin to begin the fourth quarter. Quarterback Eric McGehee directed a nine-play, 74-yard scoring drive that was capped by sophomore running back John Peterson following his consecutive rushes of 17 and 14 yards with a 1-yard score one minute into the final quarter. The Lions' fourth 1-yard scoring burst of the day initiated a running clock for the remainder of the contest and ultimately completed the game's scoring with a convincing 42-point division road victory for EMCC.

The EMCC Lions, now 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the MACCC North, will next play host to the Tigers of Northeast Mississippi during East Mississippi's 2025 Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus.