With the 2009 season about to end for the East Central Community College football squad, interim head coach Brian Anderson is hoping for a similar finish to 2008.

Last year East Central shocked the state’s community/junior college world by upsetting nationally-ranked and playoff-bound Pearl River Community College 44-38 in double overtime. The Wildcats later fell to Gulf Coast for the 2008 state title and finished 8-3.

The Warriors won three of their four remaining games in 2008 to finish 4-5 under former head coach Steve Cheatham. East Central came close to pulling off another shocker earlier against Gulf Coast, but the Bulldogs held on for a 38-35 decision on the Perkinston campus.

Anderson, who completed his first season as offensive coordinator in 2008 and has dual responsibilities this year, said upsetting the Wildcats Thursday night will be a “tremendous challenge,” but he is confident the Warriors will be ready to play when the MACJC South Division battle gets under way at 6:30 p.m. in Decatur.

“We obviously want to finish the season on a positive note and by beating Pearl River we will accomplish that goal,” said Anderson, whose Warriors bring a 2-6 overall record into the season finale. “We know they will be thinking about last year and are also disappointed about not making the playoffs this year. They will no doubt want to finish the season by beating us….it should be a great game.”

 In addition to ending the season with a victory, the Warriors are seeking their first division win in 2009. Division losses are to Copiah-Lincoln (27-13), Gulf Coast (49-19), Southwest (21-20), Jones County (32-10) and Hinds (30-7).

“We are very disappointed with our division record,” Anderson added, “and hopefully we will get our first division win against Pearl River. We’ve had a good week of practice and I’m confident our team will play well.”

The Wildcats, who were ranked as high as third nationally and continue to receive votes as one of the nation’s top squads, improved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the division after their 43-7 thrashing of homecoming victim Southwest Mississippi Community College Saturday afternoon.

Pearl River has also recorded victories against Holmes (45-7), Northeast (42-23), Northwest (38-35), and Hinds (45-3). Losses are to Gulf Coast (38-28), Jones County (27-10) and Copiah-Lincoln (42-25).

The Wildcats are led by Tim Hatten, whose eight-year record as head coach is 66 wins and 16 losses. His 2004 squad captured the NJCAA and MACJC championships. Pearl River also won state titles in 2002, 2005 and 2006.

This year’s PRC squad once again has a top-rated offensive unit, as does East Central.

The Wildcats are ranked third in total offense, averaging 413.9 yards per contest. The Warriors are a close fifth, producing 412.2 yards.

Pearl River’s passing attack is ranked third and is led by sophomore quarterback Emil Jones, a product of North Forrest High School. Jones has completed 180 of 290 passes for 2,053 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has also thrown 11 interceptions. His top receiver is sophomore Desmond Ratliff of Canton, who also leads the state with 77 receptions for 962 yards and eight touchdowns

Warrior sophomore signal caller Emmanuel Taylor is ranked fourth in the state. Taylor, a former standout at Early County High School in Blakely, Ga., has completed 133 of 234 passes for 1,841 yards and 13 scores. He has also thrown eight interceptions. His favorite targets are sophomore Antonio Hughes of Morton and freshman Radarious Owens of Quitman. Hughes has 29 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns and Owens has grabbed 35 catches for 444 yards and two scores.

East Central has the third-best rushing offense in state, averaging 187.7 yards per contest. Taylor is also the team’s leading ground-gainer with 91 carries for 637 yards and three touchdowns and is ranked fifth in the state. Running back Derrick Cade, who has appeared in only three games due to injuries, is ranked eighth with 101 carries for 520 yards and three touchdowns.  

 Pearl River’s rushing attack is ranked seventh with a 150.9-yard average. Sophomore running back Rashod Henry is the state’s third-best rusher with 84 carries for 691 yards and seven touchdowns. Henry is a product of Lumberton High School.

Both squads are rated high in the kicking game, as it pertains to individual scoring. The Wildcats’ Travis Bradley is tied for second, having made 33 of 34 PATs and five of eight field goals for a total of 43 points. Bradley is a freshman from Pascagoula. EC’s Chad Mangum is ranked fifth in the state. The Oak Hill Academy product has connected on 18 of 21 PATs and four of 10 field goals for a total of 30 points.  

Defensively, the Warriors continue to have one of the state’s top defensive passing units, allowing just 158.2 yards per game, second-best in the state. Pearl River’s passing defense ranks fifth by allowing 169.5 yards per game.

The Warrior rushing defense continues to struggle and ranks last by allowing 213.1 yards per game. The Pearl River rushing defense is not much better. The tenth-rated unit allows 154 yards per contest. 

Overall, the EC defense allows 371.4 yards and is ranked last. Pearl River’s defense is seventh and gives up 323.5 yards per game.

Several EC players are ranked among the top defenders in the state.

Sophomore defensive back Elijah Tanksley of Meridian ranks second in second interceptions with six, and freshman Octavious Gilbert is third in tackles with 56 solo stops and 26 assists. Gilbert is a product of Prattville (Ala.) High School. Sophomore defenders Ken Griffin and Guy Holden are also among the top tacklers. Griffin, a defensive back from Philadelphia, has 41 tackles and 12 assists. Holden, a linebacker and product of Newton County High School, is credited with 41 solo stops and 10 assists.