By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
Oct. 25, 2002
SCOOBA It's getting late in the season and the East Mississippi Community College Lions are beat up and frustrated.
The Lions suffered their worst loss of the season in last Saturday's homecoming game with Northwest. Ranger quarterback Bobby Robison threw for six touchdowns and 398 yards in the 53-17 romp.
The loss dropped EMCC to 2-5 on the season and 1-4 in MACJC/Region 23's north division. On Saturday, the Lions head to the Delta to battle the vastly improved Coahoma CC Tigers in Clarksdale.
Lions head coach Tom Goode is hoping his team can solve some problems with its secondary after getting carved up by Northwest in Scooba last week.
Besides the loss of Randle, the Lions were also hurt when starting corner back Otis Bumpers of Meridian was dismissed from the team.
Two other local products in Southeast Lauderdale's Ben Reed and former starting Lion fullback Gerrod Williams are also no longer on the team. Both were academic suspensions.
Mentally, a season-full of near misses and missed opportunities finally caught up with the Lions against Northwest.
East beat Coahoma 13-8 last year for one of its two wins. The Tigers, though, look to present an even tougher challenge this year under new coach Freeman Horton.
Coahoma, 2-5 but only 1-3 in the north division, lost at Itawamba 42-12 last week. The Tigers have beaten Southwest and Holmes (8-0).
Goode said he is leaning toward starting Starkville's DeAngelo Dantzler for Saturday's game. Dantzler came in during the second quarter to replace an ineffective Daniel Spinks. Dantzler was 12-of-23 for 133 yards and a touchdown last week.
The Lions also got a lift from sophomore running back Galen Hendricks of Columbus who rushed for 81 yards against Northwest.
Linebacker Ken Hollis continues to draw raves from college recruiters. The sophomore linebacker ranks second in the state in tackles with 79. He has drawn offers from both LSU and Georgia.
Meridian defensive end Eddie Moss leads the Lions with six sacks.