By By Stan Caldwell / special to The Star
Sept. 25, 2004
POPLARVILLE Pearl River Community College football coach Tim Hatten says he and his team don't look past anyone they play.
And the proof of that was on display Thursday night at Dobie Holden Stadium, as the fourth-ranked Wildcats demolished East Central 60-14 in an MACJC South Division game.
With a showdown looming next Thursday at seventh-ranked Hinds, it was thought that perhaps the Wildcats might be thinking more about the Eagles and less about the Warriors.
PRCC (4-0, 2-0) blasted East Central (2-2, 1-1) with a 40-point first half outburst en route to its eighth-highest point total ever.
The Wildcats came into the game averaging 465 yards per game, best in the state and second -best in the country. And they didn't hurt that average any against the Warriors, piling up 472 yards of offense.
In a little over a half of play, Oliver completed 19 of 32 passes for 305 yards and two touchdown passes. He also ran for another pair of scores.
East Central opened the game like it was going to give PRCC all it wanted. On the first play from scrimmage, Jarius Neal ripped off a 19-yard gainer, and Terrance McFadden followed with a 17-yard pickup.
But two plays later, Glentrelle Ware pounced on a fumble at the Pearl River 30, and that was about it for the Warriors.
Oliver completed his first four passes, driving to the ECCC 34, before throwing a pick to Tony Edison.
But after the Wildcats held the Warriors to a three-and-out, it didn't take long for the Pearl River offense to reach the end zone.
A 25-yard pass to Josh Barnes moved PRCC into East Central territory, then Bernard Smith had runs of 16 and 12 yards, the second for the score.
On the ensuing kickoff, special teams ace George Leverette knocked the ball out of the grasp of returner Derrell Ashford and recovered the fumble at the East Central 5. Oliver dashed in on the next play to make the score 14-0.
A 56-yard pass to Levance Richmond and a 30-yard pass to Larry Brackins set the Wildcats inside the ECCC 10, and Oliver ran it in from four yards out.
Richmond, playing his normal safety position, swiped a pass and returned the ball to the ECCC 25 to set up the next score, coming on a 19-yard pass from Oliver to James Hollingsworth.
The Wildcats added a 77-yard punt return by Brackins, then Oliver beat the clock for another score with 12 seconds to play in the first half, driving 52 yards in five plays in the two-minute drill.
Oliver's 31-yard pass to Hollingsworth on the first possession of the second half set up Smith's 8-yard touchdown run, then the reserves played the rest of the way for the Wildcats.