By Shawn Wansley
JCJC Sports Information Director

ELLISVILLE – Jones County Junior College knew they could not make turnovers and give up big plays in the MACJC semifinals vs. East Mississippi Community College.

But turnovers, big plays and mistakes hurt the 19th-ranked Bobcats, as they dropped a 26-16 decision to the Lions here at Sullivan-Windham Field on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

JCJC ends the season at 6-4. The No. 8 Lions, 9-1, will host Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, for the state championship. Gulf Coast crushed Coahoma Community College, 58-21, in its semifinal contest.

EMCC outgained Jones 393-237 in total offense, but the Lions also turned the ball over six times, compared to JCJC's four.

Bobcat running back Bubba Brown carried 23 times for 83 yards. Rafael Pollard had two receptions for 59 yards and Jamieon Keyes had four catches for 32 yards.

Quarterback Brian Robinson was 7-of-15 through the air for 88 yards, but was ejected along with East Mississippi's Alvin Ellis for a scrap on the field late in the first half.

EMCC's Pat Shed rushed 31 times for 89 yards. Receiver Lance Lewis had four receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Derrick Steele had four receptions for 58 yards.

Lion quarterback Randall Mackey completed 12 of 23 passes for 191 yards.

A big play got the Lions on the scoreboard quickly.

On EMCC's second possession of the game, Mackey dropped back from his own 27-yard line and lobbed a pass deep downfield for Lewis. Lewis hauled it in near the JCJC 35 in front of the EMCC bench, maintained his balance and raced into the end zone to complete the 73-yard scoring play. Brett Spencer kicked the extra point and the Lions led 7-0 with 10:39 left in the first quarter.

EMCC had the next scoring opportunity when John Rice recovered a Bobcat fumble at the JCJC 32. But five plays later, Spencer's 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked and JCJC took over at their own 21.

Jones then got a 42-yard pass from Robinson to Pollard to move into Lion territory. However, the drive stalled at the EMCC 36 and the Bobcats punted.

JCJC held and took over on the Lion 38 after a punt. Jones moved to the 20 where they faced a third and 3. However, Robinson was sacked for a 10-yard loss back to the 30. Jacob Chancellor then attempted a 47-yard field goal that came up short.

The Lions then took over and drove from their own 30 to the Bobcat 5 in eight plays. But JCJC linebacker D.A. Autry picked off a Mackey pass at the goal line and returned it to his own 15 to end the threat.

The Bobcats moved out to their own 45, but Robinson would be picked off by Anthony Hines at the Lion 44. He returned it to the JCJC 29, but after the play there was an altercation between Robinson and Ellis. Offsetting personal fouls were called and both players were ejected from the game.

The Lions had the ball at the Jones 21 with 1:21 left in the first half, but Steele would catch a Mackey pass, fumble and Jamie Bender recovered for the Bobcats at the 15 to end the threat with 1:03 left in the second quarter.

Jones would then take advantage of a Lion turnover to get on the scoreboard early in the third quarter.

DeAntrae McInnis picked off a Mackey pass at the Lion 39 and returned it to the 26.

Three plays later, Chancellor kicked a 38-yard field goal and EMCC led 7-3 with 11:35 left in the third quarter.

EMCC would then get a 42-yard kickoff return by Steele and take over at midfield. The Bobcats held, but Dimino's punt would be downed at the Jones' 2.

Two plays later, JCJC backup quarterback Robert Ross' pass was picked off by Hines, who returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. Spencer's kick put EMCC ahead 14-3 with 9:13 left in the third quarter.

The Lions increased the lead on its next possession, driving 80 yards in seven plays. A 54-yard pass from Lion backup quarterback to Lewis was a big play in the drive. Another big play was on fourth and one at the Lion 15, Shed got the call and barely picked up the first down. The Bobcat defense thought they had held, but the Lions got the first down by inches on the official measurement.

On the very next play, Henderson hit Lewis on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Spencer's extra point put the Lions ahead 21-3 with 4:48 left in the third quarter.

But the Bobcats would not go quietly.

They took the ensuing kickoff and drove 50 yards in 10 plays for a score. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ross hit Anthony Jackson on a 5-yard touchdown pass. Chancellor's extra point made it 21-10 with 14:54 left in the game.

Two possessions later, EMCC's Brandon Lewis recovered a JCJC fumble and the Lions had a first and goal at the Bobcat 10. But JCJC's Ramon Blakeney intercepted a Henderson pass at the goal line and returned it to his own 17.

JCJC would then drive 83 yards in seven plays for a touchdown. A 37-yard run by Brown was a key play in the drive. Jones would face a fourth and eight at the EMCC 27 and they lined up for a 44-yard field goal attempt. However, holder Chris Lofton took the snap, rolled to his right and threw back across the field to the placekicker – Chancellor – who was wide open inside the Lion 10. Chancellor hauled it in and went in for the touchdown to make it 21-16 with 8:41 left in the game.

The Bobcats would then go for two, but the Lions would come up with a big play.

Ross attempted a pass, but it was intercepted by T.J. Ballou at the goal line. He would then return it 100 yards for a two-point play and EMCC would take a 23-16 lead.

JCJC then kicked off to the Lions and the hosts would put the final points of the day on the board. EMCC drove from their own 40 to the JCJC 1. After a loss of two yards on third down, Spencer came in and booted a 20-yard field goal to give the Lions a 10-point lead with 3:09 left in the game.

The Bobcats then drove to the Lion 21 where their drive stalled. Needing two scores to tie, Jones elected to go for the field goal. But Chancellor's 38-yard effort was off to the left and EMCC took over with 2:04 left.

Jones got the ball back with 15 seconds left at their own 38, but only managed a short pass completion and the game was over.


JCJC vs. East Mississippi statistics

East Mississippi 26, JCJC 16

JCJC 0 0 3 13 - 16
EMCC 7 0 14 5 - 26

First downs
JCJC 13; EMCC 15
Rushing yards
JCJC 38-77; EMCC 42-133
Passing
JCJC 12-31-2 for 160 yards; EMCC 15-28-3 for 163 yards
Total offense
JCJC 237 yards; EMCC 393 yards
Penalties
JCJC 0-0; EMCC 4-40
Punts
JCJC 6 for 280 yards - 46.6 ave; EMCC 6 for 193 yards - 32.3 ave.
Fumbles-lost
JCJC 2-2; EMCC 4-3

Individual
Rushing
JCJC - Bubba Brown 23-83; Brian Robinson -28 yards on 9 carries; Chris Lofton 1-5; Justin Gaines 1-4; Robert Ross 4-13.
EMCC-Shed 31-89; Mackey 8-21; Franks 2-13; Brad Henderson 0-1.
Passing
JCJC - Robinson 7-15-1 for 88 yards; Ross 4-15-1 for 45 yards; Lofton 1-1-0 for 27 yards.
EMCC - Mackey 12-23-2 for 191 yards; Henderson 3-5-1 for 69 yards.
Receiving
JCJC - Jamieon Keyes 4-32; Brown 1-6; Rafael Pollard 2 for 59; Tristan Purifoy 2-25; Clifton Pollock 1-6; Jackson 1-5; Chancellor 1-27.
EMCC - Lance Lewis 4-151; Derrick Steele 4-58; Franks 3-24; Cedrick Blanks 1-8; Stephon Johnson 3-19.
Punting
JCJC - Chancellor 6 for 280 yards.
EMCC - Dimino 6 for 193 yards.
Returns
JCJC - La'Darious Portis 4 kickoff returns for 41 yards; Caleb Prentiss 1 ko return for 6 yards.
EMCC - British Footman 1 KO return for 42 yards; 1 punt return for 8 yards.