East Central Warriors Spoil Jones County’s Homecoming With a 14-6 Win

The East Central Community College Warriors scored two first half touchdowns and then held on for a 14-6 win over Jones County Junior College Saturday, Oct 10, spoiling the Bobcats Homecoming celebration in Bobcat Stadium in Ellisville.

East Central improved to 5-2 overall on the season. The Warriors are now 2-2 in Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges South Division play. Jones County fell to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in the South Division.

After a scoreless first quarter that saw each team control the ball for

long periods of time without scoring, East Central got on the scoreboard on the first play of the second quarter. Facing a third and nine from the Jones 23, sophomore quarterback Jesse Hosket, a product of French Camp High School, hit tight end Jordan Thomas out of Sumrall High School for the score.

The drive covered 72 yards in 10 plays. Freshman Aaron Garrett, a product of Meridian High School, kicked the point after and the Warriors led 7-0.

On the Bobcats next possession, sophomore safety Austin Balthazor out of Seminary High School in Collins picked off a Kelvin Bourrage pass and returned it 27 yards to the Jones 20-yard line. Three plays later, freshman running back Tredarian Gamble powered in from the one-yard line to put the Warriors up 14-0 after Garrett’s PAT.

Gamble out of Oxford High School (Ala.) rushed for 140 yards on 28 carries on the afternoon. It was his fourth straight game rushing for over 130 yards.

Jones County didn’t get on the scoreboard until early in the fourth

quarter on a one-yard run by wide receiver Tevin Moore. The point after by Michael Godly was wide right and East Central led 14-6. The 17-play, 81-yard drive was aided by a personal foul and defensive holding call against the Warriors, and included a successful fourth down and three conversion from the East Central five-yard line.

The East Central defense forced eight Jones punts on the afternoon.

Hosket completed all nine passes he attempted in the first half for 70 yards and a touchdown. He finished the day 15 of 19 for 105 yards.

East Central returns home next Saturday, Oct. 17, for its annual Homecoming game hosting Southwest Mississippi Community College Bears. The South Division showdown kicks off at 2:30 p.m. in Bailey Stadium on the Decatur campus.

The game can be heard on WKOZ 98.3 “The Groove” or via audio stream at www.eccc.edu. Live streaming video with audio can be found at www.eccc.edu or www.kicks967.com