By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 10, 2003
DECATUR After knocking off defending state champion Holmes 21-14 in their season opener last week, the East Central Community College Warriors look to avoid a letdown when they travel to Northeast Mississippi Community College Thursday night.
Kickoff at Booneville is slated for 7 p.m.
Northeast opened its season taking a 43-3 loss at Pearl River. ECCC head coach Terry Underwood said the severity of the beating wasn't nearly as bad on the field as it was on the scoreboard.
Northeast will be hosting its home opener.
In beating Holmes, ECCC racked up 360 total yards to 188 for the Bulldogs.
Kenshay Hunter of Philadelphia scored on runs of three, and 19 yards and Titus Ryan found the end zone on a 6-yard reverse. Mitch Myers added all three extra points.
ECCC rushed for 239 yards with Germaine Smith picking up 98 on 18 carries, and Hunter adding 85 on 19 totes. Terrell Robinson completed 10-of-15 passes for 120 yards. Ryan had six catches for 101 yards and ran the ball six times for 26 yards. Ryan also added 98 yards on three kickoff returns.
Sed Eichelberger had 12 total tackles to lead the Warrior defense. Chunkgil Page, Henry Smith, and Corey Hayes each had eight total tackles. Willie Johnson forced a pair of Bulldog fumbles. Leron Yarbrough had four tackles, blocked a field goal attempt, and had one interception.
Leading the Tigers is first-year head coach Andy Greening. Quarterbacking for Northeast is 6-foot-5 sophomore Matthew Stevenson from Memphis, Tenn.
Northeast has gone to a more wide open offense this year, using four and occasionally five receivers. Top receivers include 6-foot-4 Emory Jones from Detroit, Mich., and 6-foot-4 Chris Brawley from Colbert County, Ala.
Interestingly, 30 of the Tigers' 55 players are from Mississippi high schools outside their district. Those include defensive back Curtis Harrison and offensive lineman Paschual Thedford from Northeast Lauderdale and defensive back Fred Miller and defensive end Greg Moore from Wayne County.
The game may be heard on WZKR-FM (103.3).