ELLISVILLE – Five teams in the MACJC South Division have only one loss.
And there are only four weeks left in the regular season.
That means each game for the No. 8 Jones County Junior College Bobcats is important, starting with this week's contest at East Central.
"There is no room for error," said JCJC head coach Steve Buckley. "You have got to play each week. We've had our slipup. There is one team left in the state that's undefeated and that's Northwest. Each week is a dogfight, no doubt."
The Bobcats, 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the division, will battle East Central, 2-3 overall and 2-1 in division play, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. There will be an audiocast of the game at www.jcjc.tv and a videocast at www.eccc.edu/eccc-media.
JCJC is coming off a solid, 33-21 victory over Southwest.
The Bobcats trailed 21-17 at halftime, but dominated play in the second half, outscoring the Bears, 16-0. It was probably JCJC's best half of football this season.
"On both sides of the ball, I thought it was," Buckley said. "You go back to the first half I felt like nothing happened that we were not aware could happen. Southwest is a very good first half team. They've been hurt by turnovers. I looked for them to have answers to what they had seen on tape from us.
"To be down at half and not panic and take control early in the second half was huge."
Buckley said the first half was up and down.
The Bobcats started the game with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by DeShawn Smith (Brooksville, Florida). But the Bobcats would fumble a punt at their own 19-yard line and turn the ball over on a fake punt attempt and give the Bears the ball at the JCJC 12. Southwest turned both of those opportunities into touchdowns.
"We started out great when DeShawn gave us an electrifying return," Buckley said. "We had them penned up, but we fumbled the ball on the punt, which was our only turnover. I'm not making light of that, but it was a funny-kicked ball. It was a hard catch, but we should have caught it.
"We let them hang around the first half because of our mistakes – a fumbled punt and a poor decision on my part by going for it on fourth down. We faked the punt. We thought we had something we liked all week and I told the kids that the first time we punt, we are doing it. I told them I believed in our defense if it didn't work, but it backfired on us. But the kids responded from that."
The Bobcats also had to deal with an injury to starting safety Jonathan Abram (East Marion). Abram absorbed a concussion late in the first quarter and missed the rest of the game.
Still, the Bobcats were able to settle down on defense in the second half and hold Southwest to only three first downs.
"I think we held them to less than 40 yards of total offense in the second half," Buckley said. "They had a lot of '3 and outs' and the defense did well. We had to make some adjustments when Jonathan got hurt. We had some kids playing positions they were not familiar with, but we responded and that's what this game is about – responding to adversity."
Defensively, defensive back Travis Reed (Meridian) had an excellent game with six tackles, one pass interception and one fumble recovery. Cornerback Javien Hamilton (Bay Springs) had five tackles and stripped the ball leading to Reed's fumble recovery.
"Travis played very well," Buckley said. "He ended up playing corner and safety for us. We were playing match coverage and matching personnel with them. He ended up covering the guy Jonathan had. Travis is growing up slowly, but surely each week."
Linebacker Cannon Gibbs (Northwest Rankin) – the team's leading tackler – had nine tackles and two tackles for loss, while tackle Tony Adams (Northwest Rankin) and linebacker Ramon Patton (Pascagoula) each had six tackles.
End Markel Winters (Tallahassee, Florida), tackle Javon Kinlaw (Charleston, South Carolina), end Marques Ford (Riverview, Florida) and defensive back A.J. Bracey (Terry) each had a sack.
The Bobcats have 33 sacks as a team, which leads the MACJC and is tied for the lead in the NJCAA. Winters has 6.5 sacks, which tops the MACJC and is 14^th nationally.
On offense, running back Scott Phillips (South Jones) had another productive game. Phillips had 27 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Phillips leads the state and is third nationally, both in yards rushing per game (121.6) and touchdowns (nine).
"I thought Scotty continued to run the ball with authority," Buckley said. "But DeShawn had some nice runs and I thought Rashaud (Green) had some good runs.
"It all starts up front. Our offensive line does a great job each week."
At quarterback, Mason Blocker (Covington, Louisiana) came off the bench to complete 13-of-20 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Detric Hawthorn (Collins) started the game at quarterback.
"Mason was steady," Buckley said. "We still feel like we don't have a quarterback who has taken the position over."
East Central, led by head coach Ken Karcher, opened the year with losses to Holmes (48-40) and Northeast (24-21) before recording consecutive South Division wins over Pearl River (35-21) and Mississippi Gulf Coast (42-28).
The Warriors led Co-Lin 23-7 entering the fourth quarter last week, but the Wolves scored four touchdowns and won the game, 34-23.
"They dominated Co-Lin for three quarters like I have not seen Co-Lin dominated this year," Buckley said. "If anything could go wrong for them in the fourth quarter it went wrong for them – from interceptions, to trick plays, to special teams plays.
"East Central is a very good football team. They are very sound. I remember when Ken got the job there, I was up there visiting during recruiting and I could tell that he knew what he wanted to do. He had a plan and he has stuck with his plan."
On offense, the Warriors are led by quarterback Dom Marino (6-2, 190) out of Sarasota, Florida. He has completed 62-of-104 passes for 854 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushes for 65 yards per game. Dwayne Barnett (5-6, 193) of Harrison Central is their leading rusher, averaging 90 yards per game.
Defensively, ECCC's leading tacklers are defensive back Torran Davis (6-2, 185) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, linebacker Eric Barnes (5-8, 215) of Seminary and linebacker Cedrick Snow (6-0, 220) of Newton. Defensive back Juwon Hayes-Keyes (5-9, 186) of Taylorsville has three interceptions.
Buckley said East Central does not try to fool their opponents. They keep everything pretty basic.
"I think their mindset is to be sound in everything they do in all three phases," he said. "Defensively, they are not flashy, but they don't give up big plays. They are very solid there. Offensively, they have a very athletic quarterback and they don't mind running him, but he can throw the ball. Up front, they get a hat on a hat and their backs get yards. They keep it in front of the chains and don't mess up."
Buckley added the Bobcats would have to be very sound if they are able to be successful vs. the Warriors.
"East Central wants you to drive the field and they don't want to give up big plays," he said. "We are not a 'big play' offense. So, we are going to have to be patient offensively and stay in front of the chains. We say this every week, but we can't turn it over.
"Defensively, we have to defend their perimeter running game and their quarterback."
The Bobcats will play their only Saturday regular season game of the year next week. They will host Pearl River for Homecoming at 2 p.m. on Oct. 15.
East Central entertains Hinds for their Homecoming game on Oct. 15.
 

MACJC standings

SOUTH DIVISION
Team                          Division                     Overall
                                    W        L                      W        L
Copiah-Lincoln          2          1                      3          2
East Central               2          1                      2          3
Miss. Gulf Coast         2          1                      2          3
Jones County             1          1                      4          1
Pearl River                 1          1                      1          4
Hinds                          1          2                      1          4
Southwest                  0          2                      1          4
 
NORTH DIVISION    
Team                          Division                     Overall
                                    W        L                      W        L
Northwest                  3          0                      5          0
East Mississippi         3          0                      4          1
Holmes                       2          1                      4          1
Northeast                   2          1                      4          1
Itawamba                   0          2                      3          2
Coahoma                    0          2                      0          5
Mississippi Delta       0          3                      1          4
 
Last week's results
Jones County 33, Southwest 21
Copiah-Lincoln 34, East Central 23
Mississippi Gulf Coast 34, Hinds 0
Itawamba 51, Pearl River 34
Northwest 27, Holmes 12
Northeast 35, Coahoma 6
East Mississippi 73, Mississippi Delta 7
Thursday's games
Jones County at East Central, 6:30 p.m.
Southwest at Pearl River, 6 p.m.
Copiah-Lincoln at Hinds, 6:30 p.m.
East Mississippi at Holmes, 6:30 p.m.
Itawamba at Northeast, 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi Gulf Coast at Mississippi Delta, 7 p.m.
Saturday' game
Northwest at Coahoma, 2:30 p.m.