By Staff
READY TO FIRE – East Central quarterback Kevin Stephens (15) fires the ball downfield against Holmes Community College earlier this season. The 0-2 Warriors visit Pearl River on Thursday night. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 18, 2002
With two non-division games out of the way, the East Central Community College Warriors open South Division play Thursday night at Pearl River's Dobie Holden Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Poplarville.
ECCC fell to 0-2 with last week's 14-7 loss to Northeast Mississippi. Pearl River, 1-1, lost 13-6 to Northeast in the season opener.
The Wildcats stunned Northwest Mississippi 20-18 last week, dropping the Rangers to 0-2 for the first time since 1981. Northwest outgained the Wildcats 373-274 in total yards, but were the victim of four turnovers.
The Warriors head to Poplarville with several key players still banged up.
The Warriors lost offensive tackle Rudy Su'e in the season opener with a broken leg.
Pearl River probably hasn't forgotten a late-season loss at ECCC last year that knocked the Wildcats out of the playoffs and put the Warriors in.
Despite a new head coach at the River, the plan is to air the ball out as much as possible. Daniel Forrest (6-3, 210) was 12-of-17 for 239 yards last week. He was sacked only once. Donovan Morgan (6-3, 195) had six receptions for 144 yards. The Wildcats were held to just under 50 yards rushing.
The game can be heard on WSSI, 98.3 FM in Carthage.