No. 8 EMCC Lions prep for title defense with 52-6 home win over Delta in regular-season finale

SCOOBA – The eighth-ranked East Mississippi Community College Lions solidified their 11^th MACCC North Division football title of the Buddy Stephens coaching era outright by closing out the regular season with a commanding 52-6 home victory over Mississippi Delta during Thursday's conference action played at Sullivan-Windham Field on the Scooba campus.

In addition to extending the Lions' current winning streak to five consecutive games entering the MACCC Football Playoffs, their dominant 46-point triumph over Delta completed their 10^th unbeaten division slate since the 2008 season.

Heading into their 14^th conference playoff appearance in the past 16 years under Stephens' guidance, the reigning MACCC football champions will begin defense of their eighth conference crown by playing host to sixth-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 11). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. in Scooba. Saturday's other MACCC football playoff game has 15^th-ranked Northwest Mississippi traveling to Wesson to take on fifth-ranked and MACCC South Division top seed Copiah-Lincoln. The two winners from Saturday's MACCC Semifinals will meet for the 2023 MACCC Football Championship the following Saturday (Nov. 18) at a site to be determined by this week's semifinal results.

Thursday's regular-season finale started with a bang as EMCC quarterback Ty Keyes connected with Cam Wright on a 63-yard catch and run down the right sideline for a touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage.

Just over three minutes later on the game clock, the Lions went 68 yards on two pass plays to quickly mount a 14-0 lead with 11:37 still remaining in the opening quarter. Following a 33-yard completion to Marcus Harris, Keyes found Raymon Blackmon, who broke multiple tackles on his way to a 35-yard touchdown.

After a 24-yard field goal by Cole Arthur at the 8:03 mark made it a 17-0 contest, EMCC's Kiron Benjamin rushed for 73 yards on eight carries during a nine-play, 94-yard drive that was capped by his 4-yard touchdown run to begin the second quarter.

The Lions stretched their advantage to 31-0 on their next possession when Jaylen Jennings scored on a 6-yard rush with 10:08 still left on the first-half clock.

Highlighted by consecutive runs of 14 and 38 yards by Trevon Brown, Delta's lone score of the contest came midway through the second quarter on Troy Griffin's 2-yard keeper into the end zone.

EMCC responded by scoring on its sixth straight offensive possession to open the game when Lee Wade scored on a 2-yard run at the 4:29 mark to lengthen the lead to 38-6 heading into intermission.

Following the halftime break, the Lions reached the MACCC's mandated 38-point, mercy-rule margin four minutes into the second half when Jaylon York's 15-yard touchdown reception from Keyes made it 45-6.

Utilizing a running clock for the final 26 minutes of the contest, EMCC backup quarterback Jaquez Harris capped the game's scoring with a 7-yard keeper at the 8:14 mark to give the Lions their third 50-point outing of the season.

For the contest, the Lions scored touchdowns on seven of their 10 offensive possessions on the night, while the visitors punted eight times during their 10 possessions. Statistically, EMCC outgained Delta, 381-161, in total offense yards, including a 238-20 passing yards advantage.

Individually for the Lions, Keyes threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 11-of-17 passing before giving way to Jaquez Harris early in the second half. Blackmon, York and Chasden Collins all led the way for EMCC's receivers with three catches apiece. On the ground, all of Benjamin's season-high 78 rushing yards (on nine attempts) were gained during the first half.