By By Marty Stamper/The Meridian Star
Nov. 11, 2001
MOORHEAD – Time after time, the East Central Community College defense stood its ground in Saturday's 10-7 loss to Mississippi Delta in the semifinals of the MACJC state playoffs.
Delta didn't go over the 100-yard mark in total offense until the game's final minute.
For the contest, Delta managed just over two yards per run, gaining 73 yards on 36 rushes. The Trojans fared little better in the air, completing 4-of-16 passes for 45 yards.
While the 2001 Warriors won't be able to proclaim themselves state champions, they will be remembered for being the fifth team in school history to make the state playoffs by beating a good Pearl River team 26-16 on Nov. 1 and for being the first group of Warriors to beat Hinds since 1981 as they thumped the Eagles 25-16 at Raymond on Oct. 11.
Other highlights were wins over Mississippi Gulf Coast (29-17), Holmes (19-10), and Copiah-Lincoln (28-14) and the 40-36 homecoming loss to Jones in which the Warriors rallied from a 34-10 deficit to take a 36-34 lead before eventually losing in the final two minutes.
Still, the 2001 Warriors will always think of what might have been if they could have just held onto the ball. One lost fumble set up the Trojans' only touchdown and another set up Jay Jones' game-winning 35-yard field goal as time ran out.
Patrick Prince had a fine farewell in his final appearance as a Warrior as he ran the ball 37 times for 147 yards and ECCC's only touchdown. On the 10-play scoring drive, Prince carried the ball nine times for 66 of the drive's 67 yards. His 147 yards were 29 more than Delta's entire team managed.
Marty Stamper is a writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at mstamper@themeridianstar.com or call him at 693-1551, ext. 3235.