By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 4, 2002
DECATUR The East Central Community College Warriors open their 2002 football season here Thursday night when they host Holmes Community College. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Warrior Stadium.
In recent years, the two have often been mirror images of each other.
Both teams were picked to finish third in their respective divisions in the preseason coaches' poll.
ECCC finished 6-4 in 2001, losing 10-7 at Mississippi Delta in the semifinals of the state playoffs. Holmes went 4-5 overall and 0-3 against South Division teams.
Holmes returns five starters on offense and five on defense. The Bulldogs have 24 returning players from last year.
Projected offensive starters for the Bulldogs include Bo Bradberry (6-0, 215) or Brandon Blake (6-2, 215) at quarterback, Alex Godfrey (5-9, 190) and Shelton Richardson (6-2, 225) at running backs, and Michael Antonini (5-10, 185), Terrence Flemming (5-9, 165), and Brian Thomas (6-1, 200) at the wideouts.
The massive offensive line averages 6-foot-3, 298 pounds with Jermaine Spencer (6-2, 330) leading the way.
Defensively, six of the front seven are back with Tracy Flounoy (6-2, 315) being one of the defensive tackles.
Expected starters for the Warriors on offense are Kevin Stephens (5-11, 189) at quarterback, Ramon Williams (5-10, 220) at running back, and Wesley Wright (5-10, 220 at fullback). The receiving corps is made up of Reggie Rice (6-0, 180), Marcus Hibler (5-9, 174), Ronald Smith (6-0, 176), and Titus Ryan (6-2, 185). Smith and Ryan are big-time speed merchants from Alabama.
The offensive line is entirely made up of sophomores John Williams (6-3, 233), Tyrone Barrett (6-1, 299), Demarcus Granger (6-3, 282), LeAndrew McDonald (6-0, 260), Rudy Su'e (6-1, 290), and Marcel Binion (6-3, 300).
Projected defensive starters are Ken Triplett (6-5, 245), Arrion Triplett (6-0, 270), Michael Wells (6-2, 270), and Corey Hayes (5-11, 312) on the line, Josh Viverette (5-10, 172), Stacey Lewis (6-0, 240), and Travares Osley (6-1, 220) at linebacker, and Pete McBride (5-9, 170), Jarvis Lymon (5-10, 185), Adrian Eiland (5-11, 175), and John Hope (6-0, 205) in the secondary.