By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
July 25, 2003
ELLISVILLE Jones County Junior College is one of three Mississippi junior college football teams to be ranked in the NJCAA's Preseason Top 25.
The Bobcats, who finished second in the MACJC's South Division with an 8-4 overall record last season, are ranked No. 14 in the poll, which was released in early July.
The states of Mississippi, Texas and Kansas, had three schools each in the preseason Top 25. Utah, Illinois, New York, Iowa and Minnesota each placed two schools in the poll.
Taking top honors among state schools is Northwest Mississippi Community College out of Senatobia. The Rangers were 5-4 last season. Pearl River Community College of Poplarville, which went 7-3 in 2002, is ranked No. 19.
Dixie State College of Utah is ranked No. 1, while Butler County (Kansas) Community College is No. 2. Rounding out the top five are Northwest Mississippi, Northeast Oklahoma A&M College and Joliet (Ill.) Junior College.
Two other Mississippi two-year schools, Hinds Community College and Holmes Community College, were listed among other schools receiving votes.
Jones made the playoffs last season, beating Northeast Mississippi Community College 15-0 in the opener, before falling to Holmes 7-0 in the championship game.
The Bobcats then played in the Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas, Texas, where they lost to Trinity Valley (Texas) College 33-22.
Jones opens its 2003 season on Thursday, Sept. 4, when the Bobcats travel to Scooba to take on East Mississippi Community College at 7 p.m.
JCJC then plays host to the annual Lions Bowl in Laurel's R.H. Watkins Stadium on Sept. 13 against Mississippi Delta Community College. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.