A gallant effort fell short for the East Central Community College Warriors who scored 11 points in the final minutes of regulation to force overtime but fell 30-27 to visiting Pearl River Community College in the season finale Thursday night at Bailey Stadium. 

East Central, which outgained Pearl River by a 499 to 261-yard margin, had a chance to claim a second-straight win over the Wildcats but quarterback Emmanuel Taylor’s pass into end zone fell incomplete on fourth and one from the PRC 16-yard-line. Taylor’s 22-yard completion to receiver Fabian Johnson of Clarksdale on third down provided ECCC with the fourth and one situation. Johnson is a product of Coahoma County High School.

Pearl River had first possession in the extra period and took the three-point lead on Rickey Bradley‘s 37-yard field goal. The Wildcats completed the season at 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the MACJC South Division.

The Warriors, who finished 2-7 overall and 0-6 in league play under interim head coach Brian Anderson, trailed 27-16 with 3:37 left in regulation.

 But Taylor, a product of Early County High School in Blakely, Ga., quickly erased the deficit by connecting with receiver Antonio Ricks of Carthage on a 41-yard touchdown strike with 2:40 remaining, followed by a successful two-point conversion featuring the same combination. Chad Mangum sent the division battle into overtime with his 32-yard field goal as time expired.

Taylor, who obviously did not let gusty winds throughout the contest hamper his passing efforts, finished the night by completing 18 of 40 passes for 386 yards and two scores. Three of his targets had over 100 yards in receptions – Johnson (seven for 109), Jeremy Harvey (six for 100) of Harrison Central and Antonio Hughes (three for 103) of Morton.

 Taylor’s first touchdown pass – a 13-yarder to Harvey early in second period action – gave EC an early 7-0 lead and capped an 11-play, 74-yard drive. Mangum, a product of Oak Hill Academy, made the PAT.

The Warriors appeared to be on their way to a two-touchdown advantage just before halftime, but Wildcat linebacker Reggie Bailey of Picayune scooped up a fumble by EC running back Dontice Sanders and raced 92 yards to pay dirt with 1:03 left. Bradley’s first of three PATs tied the score at 7-7. Sanders, a product of Wetumpka (Ala.) High School, had one of his best nights rushing and finished with 110 yards on 18 carries.

East Central had begun the drive from its 20-yard-line after receiving possession following CJ Estelle’s interception of a Wildcat pass in the end zone with 5:16 left before the break. Estelle, one of the state’s leaders in interceptions, hails from Childersburg (Ala.) High School.

The Warriors regained the lead at 10-7 early in third period on Mangum’s 23-yard field goal. EC had taken possession on its 20 and reached the Pearl River two-yard-line but could get no closer and settled for the three-pointer.

Pearl River answered with Bradley’s 27-yard field goal with 6:41 left in the third stanza, which deadlocked the score again at 10-10.

The Wildcats took their first lead a couple of minutes later on a 15-yard TD strike from quarterback Emil Jones, a product of North Forrest High School, to receiver Desmond Ratliff of Canton. The tally capped a short 26-yard march set up when Taylor’s pass was tipped and picked off by linebacker Casey Smith, an Oak Grove product.

East Central cut into the Wildcat lead on its next possession when Mangum split the uprights on a 32-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the third stanza. EC had driven from its 32 to the Wildcat 12, when the march stalled.

Pearl River later stretched its lead to 24-13 on its next possession on Jones’ 33-yard scoring pass to Ratliff early in the fourth period. The 49-yard drive was aided by a personal foul against the Warriors, who ended the night with over 100 yards in penalties.

East Central responded to the Pearl River score by marching from its 49 to the Pearl River four-yard-line, but had to settle on a 22-yard field goal by Mangum to cut the deficit at 24-16.

The Wildcats took the ensuing kickoff and drove from their 40 to the EC three-yard-line. But the Warrior defense stiffened and forced the Wildcats to also settle for a short field goal – a 22-yarder by Bradley with 3:37 left, which gave the visitors a 27-16 advantage. EC scored the next 11 points and sent the game into overtime.