Three East Central Community College football players were recognized for their standout performances in the Warriors’ 30-27 overtime loss to Pearl River Community College in the season finale held Thursday, Oct. 22 on the Decatur campus.

Sophomore quarterback Emmanuel Taylor and freshman defenders Octavious Gilbert and Khalid Wilson were among players receiving the recognition from the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges.

Taylor completed 21 of 43 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns and finished the 2009 campaign ranked third in passing. A 5-10, 180-pound product of Early County High School in Blakely, Ga., Taylor connected on 154 of 277 attempts for 2,241 yards and 15 touchdowns. He averaged 249 yards passing per game. He also threw nine interceptions.

Gilbert, a 5-10, 220-pound linebacker, had 14 solo tackles and three assists. Two of the tackles resulted in minus yardage. Gilbert, a former standout at Prattville (Ala.) High School, finished second in the state with 70 solo stops and 23 assists.

 Wilson, a 6-1, 280-pound defensive lineman, was credited with seven tackles and two quarterback sacks. He is also rated among the state’s top tacklers and posted 42 solo stops and 12 assists.

East Central went 2-7 overall and 0-6 in the MACJC South Division in 2009 under interim head coach Brian Anderson.