SCOOBA – No. 4 Jones College scored touchdowns on its first two possessions against defending MACCC champions and No. 13 East Mississippi, but could not sustain the momentum.
 
The Lions outscored the Bobcats 33-3 over the game's final 43 minutes and posted a 47-23 decision here Thursday night at Sullivan-Windham Field.
 
EMCC racked up 462 yards of total offense and held Jones to 312 with three takeaways.
 
The Bobcats forced a three and out to start the game and took over at their own 20-yard line. Jones drove 80 yards in seven plays and got a 23-yard touchdown pass from DJ Smith (Greenville Christian) to Houston Johnson (Pascagoula). Bart Edmiston Jr.'s (Ocean Springs) extra point made it 7-0 with 11:09 to play in the first quarter.
 
EMCC then moved 75 yards in nine plays for its first score. Quarterback Ty Keyes connected with Raymond Blackmon on a 21-yard touchdown pass and Cole Arthur's PAT tied the game at 7-7 with 8:36 to play in the opening quarter.
 
Jones took the ensuing kickoff and went 78 yards in eight plays. Smith found Marlon Lindsey Jr. (West Jones) for a 23-yard scoring strike and Edmiston's kick made it 14-7 with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter.
 
But the Lions would quickly answer, moving 65 yards in nine plays to tie it up. Keyes hit Lee Wade for a 19-yard touchdown pass and Arthur's extra point made it 14-14 with 2:18 left in the first quarter.
 
Jones would take advantage of a fumbled punt to regain the lead. Trent Howell (George County) recovered the fumble at the EMCC 15 with 13:23 to play in the second quarter. 
 
Two plays later, Smith rushed 11 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good and Jones led 20-14 with 12:41 to play in the first half. 
 
The Lions would take the lead for good on their next drive. EMCC moved 48 yards in six plays with Keyes connecting with Jacobi Moore on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Arthur's kick made it 21-20 with 10:50 to play in the second quarter.
 
EMCC forced a punt and Jaylon York returned the kick 36 yards to the Bobcat 41. An illegal block against Jones on the play moved the ball to the Bobcat 26.
 
Seven plays later, Keyes found Cam Wright for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Arthur's extra point put EMCC ahead 28-20 with 6:51 remaining in the first half. 
 
Jones had a chance to get points just before the half, but Smith was tackled at the EMCC 21 and the Bobcats were called for intentional grounding as they tried to spike the ball as time expired.
 
The Lions drove 80 yards in 11 plays on their first drive of the second half. Jaylen Jennings ended the march with a 2-yard run. The extra point attempt was no good, but EMCC led 34-20 with 9:38 left in the third quarter.
 
The Bobcats then went 48 yards in 12 plays to the Lion 20. But the drive stalled and Edmiston booted a 37-yard field goal to make it 34-23 with 4:13 to play in the third quarter. 
 
The Jones defense then stopped the Lions on downs at the Bobcat 43.
 
The Bobcats moved to the EMCC 39 where they faced a 2nd and six. Smith kept the ball for five yards, but fumbled at the Lion 34.  EMCC's Shannon Blair picked up the ball and raced 66 yards for a touchdown.
 
EMCC ended the scoring on its next possession, driving 73 yards in 11 plays. Jennings scored from a yard out on 4th and goal and Arthur's conversion made it 47-23 with 9:24 to play.
 
Individually, Smith was 19-of-28 for 183 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 17 times for 54 yards and a score. Trent Davis (Attalla, Alabama) carried nine times for 41 yards. Lindsey had two catches for 40 yards and a score and Johnson had four receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Daishun Scott (Greenville Christian) had 11 tackles and one tackle for loss and Raymond Collins (Harrison Central) had 10 tackles. Cedrick Beavers (Taylorsville) had six tackles and an interception and Josh Brown (Columbia) had six tackles.
 
Edmiston averaged 49.6 yards per punt on eight kicks with five of 50-plus and a long of 64.
 
Keyes was 26-of-41 through the air for 342 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. He also carried 11 times for 45 yards. Moore had six catches for 90 yards. Brylan Lanier led the EMCC defense with 11 tackles, including four tackles for loss.
 
EMCC had nine sacks in the game and Jones had none.
 
The Bobcats (1-1) will play their first home game as they open MACCC South Division play on Sept. 21 vs. Copiah-Lincoln. Co-Lin (2-0) defeated Mississippi Delta 34-7 on Thursday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium-Sim Cooley Field and the game will air on JCJC.TV and WLAU-FM, 99.3, SuperTalk Laurel with Mark Easley and Luke Johnson on the call.
 
East Mississippi (1-1) hosts Holmes on Sept. 21.