DECATUR – The No. 15 Jones College Bobcats had a disappointing evening here Thursday at Bailey Stadium/Warrior Field.
 
The Bobcats turned the ball over on their first three possessions and never recovered, dropping a 21-7 decision to East Central.
 
Jones falls to 4-3 overall, 1-3 in the MACCC South Division. The Warriors are now 2-5 overall, 2-2 in division play.
 
The tone of the game was set on the first series.
 
The Bobcats took the opening kickoff and drove from their own 23-yard line to the ECCC 22 in eight plays. On the next play, quarterback Jevarion Glover (Amanda Elzy) broke through the Warrior defense and appeared headed for a touchdown. But he was stripped of the ball before crossing the goal line and the ball went through the end zone for a touchback.
 
The Warriors then marched 80 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. Quarterback Brady Hammonds tossed a 9-yard scoring pass to Terry Patton Jr. Connor Mullins' extra point made it 7-0 with 6:46 to play in the first quarter.
 
On the next possession, Glover's pass was intercepted by Jalen Anderson and returned 48 yards for a touchdown. Mullins' PAT made it 14-0 with 5:52 remaining in the opening period. 
 
The Bobcats' next drive ended in another interception as Glover was picked off by Jai'teriyas Robinson at the Warrior 40.
 
But the Bobcat defense would hold ECCC on downs at the Warrior 48.
 
Jones would then drive 48 yards in nine plays with running back CJ Rush (Philadelphia) scoring on a 16-yard dash on the first play of the second quarter. Christian Baglione's (Northwest Rankin) extra point made it 14-7 with 14:52 showing on the clock.
 
But two possessions later, the Warriors marched 48 yards in five plays to increase the lead. Malachi Mickel rushed five yards for a touchdown and Mullins' conversion made it 21-7 with 9:27 to play in the first half.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats moved to the East Central 28-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs on a fourth and 6 play. Jones drove to the Warrior 19-yard line late, but turned the ball over on downs with just 53 seconds remaining.
 
Glover completed 16-of-26 passes for 84 yards and two interceptions. He also rushed 14 times for 70 yards. Ky'Yon Harris (Union) carried nine times for 43 yards and Rush rushed four times for 36 yards. Zay Roberts (Pompano Beach, Fla.) had four receptions for 40 yards.
 
Arterus Moffett (Saraland, Ala.) had eight tackles and Delarrius Hayes (Magee) had eight tackles and two and half tackles for loss. Isaiah Lindsey (West Jones) had six tackles, two TFLs and one sack and AJ Parker (MRA) had six tackles.
 
Luke Stewart (Oak Grove) averaged 40.5 yards on six punts.
 
Hammonds completed 22-of-31 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown for ECCC. Mickel carried 13 times for 63 yards and a score. Eelijah Singleton had six catches for 57 yards and Tyler Arrington had seven receptions for 52 yards.
 
Elgin Mcduffey and La'Garrius Sims each had eight tackles to top the Warrior defense.
 
Jones had 16 first downs, 170 yards rushing, 84 yards passing and 254 yards of total offense. ECCC had 17 first downs, 99 yards rushing, 216 yards passing and 315 yards of total offense
 
The Warriors held the ball for 36:49 compared to just 23:11 for Jones.
 
Up next, the Bobcats travel to Southwest for a 5 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 25.
 
East Central visits No. 10 Co-Lin on Oct. 23.