Published: October 10, 2008 01:59 am      

Three former 'Cats score in EMCC shutout

BOONEVILLE — East Mississippi Community College is just one win away from clinching its first-ever MACJC North Division championship.

The Lions, who are currently riding a five-game winning streak, dropped Northeast Mississippi Community College 49-0 — its first shutout win in eight years — Thursday night in Booneville.

Starting quarterback Randall Mackey saw limited action — only playing in the first half — but made the most of his time on the field. The freshman completed 14-of-19 passes for 252 and three touchdowns, and ran for another.

His first pass came to former Meridian Wildcat Montrez Mosley on a 10-yard strike midway through the first quarter.

Wayne Bonner caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Mackey to put EMCC up 14-0. Less than a minute in the second period, Mackey ran in from 4 yards out, giving the Lions a three-touchdown lead.

EM was held out of the end zone until the 1:07 mark when Mackey hit Leon Berry from 29 yards out and the 28-0 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, AJ Brown — also a Meridian High School alum — caught a 7-yard TD from Mackey's replacement, Perry Trammell.

It took the Lions just 13 more seconds to score again as Claude Davis picked off a Northeast pass and returned it 18 yards for a score.

EMCC's final points came from MHS product Cedrick Blanks, who led the team in rushing last week. His touchdown plunge came from 1 yard out.

The 49-point win is the largest margin of victory in nearly three decades, when the Lions beat Coahoma 58-7.

Scooba Tech improves to 6-1 on the year, including a 4-0 mark in the North Division.

The Lions will host Itawamba on Oct. 18 at West Point High School with a chance to win the division.

— Chris Brennaman