Published: November 09, 2008 01:42 am      

EMCC's Stephens, Mackey win Region 23's top honors

SCOOBA — Rewarded for directing the East Mississippi Lions to their best football season in modern school history, head coach Buddy Stephens and freshman quarterback Randall Mackey have been named 2008 NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player, respectively.

In his first season at the EMCC helm following a 7-year stint as an assistant coach at Pearl River, Stephens guided the 8-2 Lions to their first 8-win season on the field since 1974 en route to participating in the MACJC football playoffs for the first time since 1984.

Having gone undefeated (6-0) in the North Division for the first time in the school’s football history, East Mississippi claimed the school’s first outright North Division football championship since the state of Mississippi officially went to divisional play beginning in 1970.

In addition, the Lions’ seven-game winning streak propelled Stephens’ squad to a No. 8 national ranking — the school's highest regular-season ending national ranking since finishing at No. 7 in 1963 — by the NJCAA heading into the MACJC playoffs.

A first-year signal-caller from Bastrop (La.) High School, Mackey leads the NJCAA in passing yards (281.8) and total offense yards (330.4) per game. He threw for 2,818 yards and 24 touchdowns on 193-of-320 (60%) passing for the year, along with rushing for 486 yards and four scores on 80 carries in 10 contests.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound All-American candidate threw for 300 or more yards three times in 2008, including a 441-yard outing on 36-of-58 passing during EMCC’s 27-23 comeback road victory over defending co-national champion and then-No. 2 ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sept. 18.

Mackey threw for a touchdown in all 10 games this season, including six outings with at least three scoring tosses.

Lion wide receiver Leon Berry, who was also selected to the All-Region 23 Team a year ago, had 39 catches for a team-leading 661 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.

Offensive guard Quartney Cox and free safety Jamar Hornsby were also named to the All-Region Team

In addition to the All-Region honors, Berry was also awarded with a spot on the MACJC All-State along with Mike Outlaw and Meridian's Montrez Mosley.

Mosley ranks 15th nationally with 43 receptions for 625 yards (14.5 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.

Defensively, along with Hornsby, Leslie Stirrups and Alvin Ellis earned first-team all-state honors for the Lions.

All total, East Mississippi’s eight first-team all-state selections (five offensive and three defensive) doubled the four first-teamers claimed by North Division foes Itawamba and Coahoma.

On the second team was one of Mosley's former Wildcat teammates. Isaiah Lewis — an offensive lineman — was one of four Lions on the squad. Pat Shed, Alex Hill and Claude Davis were the others.