By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Oct. 29, 2003
When it comes to the MACJC state football playoffs, the field is already set. That doesn't mean the East Central Community College Warriors don't have something to play for Thursday when they host Southwest Mississippi at 6:30 p.m.
With a win, the Warriors could finish as high as fourth in the South Division. With a loss, they could place as low as seventh.
Like the Warriors, who are 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the South Division, the Bears have had chances to earn a playoff berth only to come up empty in clutch situations.
Southwest, 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the division, has close losses to Hinds (9-7), Northeast Mississippi (26-25), Jones (17-14) and Pearl River (14-6).
Southwest has beaten Gulf Coast (35-19) and Copiah-Lincoln (30-7) in its last two outings.
ECCC ranks fourth in the state in total offense at 336.5 yards per game, while Southwest is ninth at 303.5. The Bears are sixth in total defense at 250.5 yards, while the Warriors are 12th, allowing 335.8 yards per contest.
ECCC quarterback Terrell Robinson was 20-of-39 for 311 yards in last week's 40-31 loss to Northwest Mississippi. Union's Derrick Harris had nine receptions for 138 yards, while Newton's Bobby Lindsey had six catches for 102 yards.
The game features three of the state's top tacklers in ECCC's Sed Eichelberger (94 total) and Kelvin Horne (84) and Southwest's Chris Browder (99).