By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Sept. 17, 2003
DECATUR East Central Community College saw its chance for a 2-0 start slip away with a 17-13 loss at Northeast Mississippi last Thursday.
The Warriors return to Decatur for their home opener Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against high-powered Pearl River. The teams are ranked first and second in the state in total offense.
Pearl River opened with a 43-3 rout of Northeast, a score that the Warriors couldn't get out of their minds last week.
ECCC leads the MACJC in total yards, averaging 370.5, while Pearl River is second at 360.5. They get those totals in opposite manners, however, as ECCC picks up 244.5 yards on the ground, while Pearl River gets 198 through the air.
The Wildcats are tied for first in the state in turnover margin at plus-four. ECCC is minus-one.
Leading the Warriors' ground game are Germaine Smith with 86 yards per game and Kenshay Hunter with 57.
Curtis Hayes averages 102 yards rushing for Pearl River. He ran for 114 on 15 carries in a 17-7 victory over Northwest Mississippi last week.
Anthony Johnson has completed 14-of-33 passes for 333 yards for the Wildcats. ECCC's Terrell Robinson is 20-of-41 for 247 yards.
Pearl River's Larry Brackins leads the state in receiving with 173 yards and four touchdowns on six receptions. In the season opener with Northeast, Brackins had five catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns. ECCC's Titus Ryan has 11 catches for 142 yards.
Pearl River's Larry Kendrick leads the state with four interceptions.
ECCC's Sed Eichelberger and Chunkgil Page both have 22 tackles.