The Newly released 60-man 2019 football roster for East Central Community College features a pair of Winston Countians. Those are sophomore wide receiver Depodray Coleman of Noxapater and freshman quarterback Deonte Yarbrough of Louisville.
Yarbrough and fellow freshman Holman Edwards of French Camp Academy are currently battling for the starting quarterback position headed into the 2019 season opener against visiting Northwest Mississippi Community College on Aug. 29. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Bailey Stadium.
The 6-foot-178-pound Coburn is expected to see playing time at wide receiver for the Warriors.
— Austin Bishop
NO SURPRISE, EMCC ONCE AGAIN ATOP NJCAA RANKINGS
There was no surprise when the NJCAA revealed its first football rankings of the year on Monday. At the top of the preseason poll was two-time defending champion East Mississippi Community College, a spot the Lions have held for the last 17 consecutive polls. EMCC was ranked No. 1 in every 2018 poll, including two in the regular season and three — including the finale — in the postseason.
No. 2 in the rankings is Iowa Western, followed by Garden City (Kansas), Jones College (Mississippi) and Hutchinson (Kansas).
Other Mississippi schools joining EMCC and Jones in the preseason Top 20 were Northwest Mississippi Community College at No. 9, Mississippi Gulf Coast at No. 12, and Copiah-Lincoln at No. 17. Also receiving votes were Northeast Mississippi, East Central Community College, Holmes Community College, and Hinds.
— Austin Bishop
MSU FAN DAY SET FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Mississippi State's annual Fan Day featuring the 2019 Bulldog football team is set for Saturday, Aug. 24, inside the Palmeiro Center on the MSU campus in Starkville
Doors open at 2 p.m. with autograph availability running from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Fans are asked to enter through the southeast entrance of the Palmeiro Center.
To help ensure everyone in attendance has a chance to meet all of the student-athletes and head coach Joe Moorhead, student-athletes may only sign the official 2019 season posters while Coach Moorhead will autograph one item of choice per person. Posters and schedule cards will be available for free to fans.
Parking is free and available in the Palmeiro-Griffis, Humphrey Coliseum and MSU Soccer Field lots. The Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex lot will be closed. Restrooms will be open in the Griffis Boardroom.
— School Reports
PROSPECT CAMPS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL ATHLETES
High school athletes ranging from ninth graders through seniors who have interest in pursing playing college softball or men’s college basketball have an opportunity to develop their skill sets and experience athletics on a junior college level this weekend.
East Central Community College is hosting an Elite Camp for boys basketball players Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m in the Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium on the school’s Decatur campus, while on Sunday the softball program is hosting a Prospect Camp from 2-5 p.m. at the school’s softball complex.
The cost for the basketball camp is $35 per player and will be lead by ECCC head coach Robert Thompson and assistant coach Gino Myers-Kyle and is conducted a manner to give players an idea of how the college game operates. For more information contact coach Thompson at rthompson@eccc.edu or by phone at 601-635-6372.
The softball event costs $50 per player with registration beginning at 1:15 p.m. Contact assistant coach Ryan McTaggart at rmctaggart@eccc.edu for more information.
— Austin Bishop
ECCC SOCCER SET TO BEGIN REULAR SEASON PLAY
The preseason has come to a close and the East Central Community College soccer teams are ready to jump into the 2019 regular season after hosting the Meridian Community College teams in a couple of exhibition matches last Friday.
The Lady Warriors tied Meridian 0-0, while the East Central men dropped a 2-0 decision. The East Central teams begin their regular seasons this week when they travel to Perkinston on Thursday to face Mississippi Gulf Coast. The men will play at 5 p.m. and the women at 7 p.m.
— School Reports
EMCC SET TO HOST ‘MEET THE LIONS’ NIGHT
Fans will have their first opportunity to check out the two-time reigning NJCAA football champion Lions of East Mississippi Community College during Wednesday’s (Aug. 21) scheduled “Meet the Lions” event on the Scooba campus. Festivities are set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at EMCC’s Sullivan-Windham Field, and admission is free of charge.
Along with introductions of members of the Lions football team and coaching staff, EMCC’s Mighty Lion Band and cheerleading team are set to perform during the scheduled one-hour event.
Coach Buddy Stephens’ EMCC Lions will open the upcoming 2019 football season on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Hinds Community College in Raymond at 6:30 p.m.
— School Reports
