Published: September 18, 2008 09:16 am      

EMCC, ECCC face top-five challenges

By Chris Brennaman

assistant sports editor

East Mississippi Community College's tough road continues tonight as the Lions take on defending co-national champion Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston.

This marks the third time in four weeks that EMCC (2-1) has faced a team that played for a MACJC state championship in the last two years. No. 2 Gulf Coast (3-0) will be the second ranked team that Scooba Tech has played this year, losing to then-No. 7 Jones County Junior College two weeks ago, 23-19.

In a matchup of two of the state's top three scoring teams, the Lions hope to build on the early season success that has come under the leadership of first-year coach Buddy Stephens.

East Mississippi is coming off its highest point output since 1995 — a 52-14 win over Holmes Community College. In the game, the Lions racked up 492 yards of total offense, including 258 on the ground. EMCC had rushed for only 219 yards in the first two games.

Gulf Coast enters the game with the state's best run defense, giving up an average of 45 yards per game. The Lions will likely go to the air the majority of the game as they boast the second best passing offense, while the Bulldogs have given up just over 200 yards a game through the air.

Kickoff from Perkinston is slated for 7 p.m.

East Central Community College is also facing a tough challenge tonight, taking on another top five team.

The Warriors, still looking for their first win under head coach Steve Cheatham, travel to Ellisville to take on No. 5 Jones (3-0, 1-0 MACJC South Division).

ECCC (0-3, 0-1) has pounded out 372 yards per game and should find some success against a defense that has allowed an average of 241 in its three contests. Jones, which has put up 280 yards a game on offense, has a chance to increase that number, facing a defense that has given up a state's worst 1384 yards in three games.

Kickoff from JCJC is set for 7 p.m.