A rain-soaked field, missed opportunities and Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s highly rated defense were too much to overcome for East Central Community College’s potent rushing attack and the Warriors dropped a 27-13 MACJC South Division decision Thursday night in Wesson.

With the loss, East Central falls to 2-6 overall and 0-5 in league action under interim head coach Brian Anderson. The Wolves improved to 5-3 and 3-2.

It was the Warrior defense that actually provided for the first points of the night, as defensive back Ken Griffin of Philadelphia scooped up teammate CJ Estelle’s fumble following an interception and returned the pigskin 11 yards to pay dirt  with 8:13 left in the first period. Chad Mangum, who hails from Oak Hill Academy, added the PAT. 

Estelle, a product of Childersburg (Ala.) High School, collected his fourth pick of the season as Co-Lin quarterback Percy Turner attempted a pass from his own end zone. The poor field position for Co-Lin was attributed to Mangum’s perfectly placed 35-yard punt on the wet playing field with no return.

The 7-0 Warrior lead was short-lived, however, as speedy return specialist Fred Fuller received Mangum’s kickoff and raced 86 yards for the game-tying score following Tyler Fitzgerald’s PAT.

Co-Lin would later grab its first lead on Titus Mobley’s 65-yard TD run early in second-period action. The PAT was missed.

EC responded by tallying on its first play following the Co-Lin score, when quarterback Emmanuel Taylor hooked up with Jeremy Harvey on a 60-yard pass completion. The PAT was blocked and the score was deadlocked again at 13-13.

The Wolves took the lead for good on their next possession following Turner’s 20-yard TD pass to receiver Carlton Ollie, capping a six-play, 63-yard drive. Fitzgerald’s PAT made it 20-13.

Co-Lin put the final points on the scoreboard when defensive back Reggie Hunt intercepted Taylor’s pass and crossed the goal line from 25 yards out. Fitzgerald added the PAT.

EC marched to the Co-Lin 24 on the ensuing possession and during a driving rain storm but the drive stalled when Taylor was sacked for a nine-yard loss on fourth and nine.

The Warriors also had scoring threats in the second half but failed to capitalize on those opportunities.

The first missed opportunity occurred when the Warriors received the second-half kickoff and drove from its 19 to the Co-Lin 16, only to lose possession on a fumble. Highlights during the 65-yard drive included Taylor’s 16-yard pass to Harvey to the Co-Lin 49, followed by Taylor’s 14-yard strike to receiver Radarious Owens of Quitman to the Wolves’ 39-yard-line.  

 On EC’s next possession – which began at the Co-Lin 41 following a short Fitzgerald punt – Taylor connected with receiver Antonio Ricks of Carthage on a 31-yard pass to the Wolves’ 10-yard line. Running Derrick Cade’s five-yard burst moved the pigskin to the five-yard-line, but the Warriors could not overcome a high snap from center which moved possession to the 16-yard-line.

The fourth quarter began with EC again in Wolf territory but the drive stalled on the 24-yard-line.

The Warrior defense kept Co-Lin from adding to its lead when Mobley was gang tackled on fourth and goal from the two-yard-line. The Wolves had gained possession at the EC 10-yard-line following an interception by Jordan Hunt.

For EC, Taylor completed 13 of 28 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown. He also had two interceptions. Harvey was the top receiver with four catches for 103 yards, including the 60-yard TD reception.

The Warriors- who entered the division contest as the state’s second-best rushing offense – managed just 73 yards on the wet turf. Dontice Sanders led Warrior rushers with 33 yards on seven carries.  

Co-Lin has the state’s second-best defense, allowing just 259 yards per contest. The Wolves’ passing defense is ranked first by allowing only 118 yards per game.

East Central will wrap up the 2009 campaign by hosting previously ranked Pearl River Community Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 6:30 at Bailey Stadium.

The Wildcats are 4-3 overall and 1-3 in division play prior to their Oct. 17 homecoming matchup with Southwest Mississippi Community College in Poplarville. 

East Central shocked the then nationally-ranked and eventual state runners-up Wildcats 44-38 in double-overtime last year in Poplarville.