Booneville, MS - The East Central Community College Warriors opened their 2024 football season with a hard-fought 23-14 win over Northeast Mississippi Community College on Thursday night at Tiger Stadium. In a game marked by strategic play-calling, crucial defensive stands, and timely scoring drives, the Warriors showcased their potential for a strong season under the leadership of Head Coach Jonathan Webster.
First Half: A Tight Battle
Northeast Mississippi took an early lead, capitalizing on an East Central turnover. The Tigers' quarterback, Jeremiah Harrell, scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, putting Northeast up 7-0 with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers' defense, buoyed by the early score, forced a quick three-and-out on East Central's next possession, placing the Warriors in a challenging position.
However, East Central responded with a methodical drive, covering 83 yards over 11 plays. Quarterback Landon Sims, who would go on to have a standout performance, connected with wide receiver Eelijah Singleton on a 25-yard touchdown pass to cap off the drive. Kicker Cade Mangum added the extra point, tying the game at 7-7 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
Northeast Mississippi reclaimed the lead in the second quarter with their own long, sustained drive. The Tigers marched 84 yards in 13 plays, consuming over seven minutes of the game clock. Running back Keion Mays finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, putting Northeast ahead 14-7. This score held as both defenses tightened up, preventing further scoring before halftime.
Halftime Adjustments Pay Off
After the halftime break, Coach Jonathan Webster's adjustments were evident as East Central took control of the game. The Warriors' defense, which had bent but not broken in the first half, became more aggressive, particularly in the pass rush. Prentiss Eichwurtzle and Donnie Smith led the charge, with Eichwurtzle recording a critical sack early in the third quarter that forced a Northeast Mississippi punt.
East Central's offense, now operating with better field position and momentum, capitalized on their first possession of the second half. Sims led the Warriors on a 10-play, 85-yard drive, which included critical completions to Josh Palmer and Singleton. The drive culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Sims to wide receiver Daelyn Patton, tying the game at 14-14 with 8:51 left in the third quarter.
The Warriors' defense continued to stifle the Tigers on their next possession, forcing a quick three-and-out. With the ball back in Sims' hands, East Central moved down the field again. Although the drive stalled at the Northeast Mississippi 21-yard line, Mangum drilled a 38-yard field goal to give the Warriors their first lead at 17-14 with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Sealing the Victory
East Central was determined to maintain their lead as the fourth quarter began. The Warriors' defense stepped up again, forcing Northeast Mississippi into a series of punts. Defensive backs Cedric Moore Jr. and Amarien Jefferson were particularly effective, breaking up passes and limiting the Tigers' receivers to short gains.
On the offensive side, East Central continued to lean on their ground game, with running back Karl Ligon proving difficult for the Tigers to stop. Ligon, who finished the game with 136 rushing yards on 16 carries, helped the Warriors chew up valuable time on the clock. His 19-yard run early in the fourth quarter set the stage for another successful drive.
The drive eventually led to another field goal opportunity for Mangum from 24 yards out. Mangum's kick was good, extending East Central's lead to 20-14 with 12:36 left in the game.
Northeast Mississippi tried to respond, but the Warriors' defense held firm. On the Tigers' next possession, linebacker Carson Graham delivered a crucial tackle for loss on second down, and a third-down sack by Eichwurtzle forced yet another punt.
With just under seven minutes remaining, East Central took possession at their 40-yard line. Knowing that a long, time-consuming drive could put the game out of reach, Sims and the Warriors' offense perfectly executed their game plan. East Central methodically moved the ball down the field by mixing short passes with effective runs. Although they couldn't find the end zone, Mangum added his third field goal of the night, a 27-yarder, to push the lead to 23-14 with 3:18 remaining.
The game ended in victory formation for the Warriors after a 61-yard run by Karl Ligon sealed the win.
Postgame Comments and Key Performances
"It's a good problem when you have multiple guys that can play," said Head Coach Jonathan Webster. "Now we've got to figure some stuff out with our quarterbacks for more consistency. Chris Tucker and Landon Sims are great college quarterbacks, and we will need those guys as we go through this long season. I'm proud that the running back room is unselfish, and all those guys can carry the load when it's time. It showed up right at the end when we needed to run the clock out to win the football game."
Landon Sims led the Warriors' offense, completing 26 40 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns. His ability to distribute the ball was critical, with Singleton and Palmer making significant contributions. Singleton's 155 receiving yards on ten catches, including a touchdown, highlighted his role as Sims' go-to target.
On the ground, Karl Ligon's 136 rushing yards were instrumental in controlling the game's tempo, particularly in the second half. His ability to break off big runs and gain tough yards kept the chains moving and the clock running.
Defensively, East Central's second-half performance was outstanding. Eichwurtzle led the team with seven tackles and two sacks, while Moore Jr. and Graham played key roles. The Warriors limited Northeast Mississippi to just 189 yards of total offense and 16 first downs, demonstrating their dominance.
Special teams also played a crucial role, with Cade Mangum's three field goals providing the margin of victory. His consistency from a distance was a significant factor in the outcome.
Up Next
With their first win of the season secured, the Warriors now turn their attention to their home opener next week against Northwest Mississippi Community College on Thursday, September 5th, at Bailey Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
Coach Webster expressed satisfaction with his team's performance but noted areas for improvement. "This was a good team win, but we have to clean up some mistakes and continue to get better," Webster said. "We're excited to return home next week, and we know Northwest Mississippi will be a tough opponent."
East Central will look to build on their momentum as they defend their home turf and continue their strong start to the season in front of their home crowd at Bailey Stadium.