The second time around for Gene Murphy is off to a nice start, as his Hinds Community College Eagles won the 2009 season opener, 16-7, in overtime over the Northeast Community College Tigers.

Murphy returned to the Hinds sideline as head coach Thursday night after a six-year layoff and saw his team move to 1-0 on the season. Northeast moved to 0-1 on the year.

Northeast looked to have the momentum toward the end of regulation and attempted a game-winning field goal inside the 10-yard line, only to see Hinds block the try and send the game into overtime.

During the extra period, the Tigers won the coin toss and deferred possession to the Eagles, putting Hinds on the offensive. Hinds quickly took advantage, as freshman Jared Thames of Vicksburg nailed a 19-yard field goal on fourth and goal to put the Eagles on top 10-7.

Northeast would try to answer on its possession in overtime, by picking up four yards on first down after Eric Knowlton took a speed sweep around the right side for a gain of four yards.

On the ensuing down, quarterback Clint Wilson threw a lateral to Jeremy Cannon, which missed its mark and Hinds’ William Crump of Jackson, a sophomore defensive lineman, scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 79 yards to the end zone for the game-ending touchdown to give Hinds a 16-7 decision.

The Hinds offense, which was held to just 183 yards on 59 plays, scored its lone touchdown when Denzel Smith of Bushnell, Fla., a freshman quarterback, ran a one-yard keeper in early in the second quarter. Thames’ point after gave Hinds the early 7-0 advantage.

Northeast would tie the contest early in the third quarter when quarterback Clint Wilson found Eric Knowlton in the end zone for a touchdown pass. Tyler Turner’s PAT would tie things at seven, and the score would remain this way until the thrilling overtime period.

Hinds was led on defense by Maxie Graham of Jackson, a freshman defensive back, who recorded eight tackles (six solo, two assists) on the evening.

Bobby McGowan of Utica, a sophomore linebacker, and Leon Mackey of Wilmington, Del., a freshman defensive end, each recorded a sack for the stingy Hinds D.

Hinds will hit the road again next Thursday, traveling to Senatobia to face Northwest Community College, which shocked the Mississippi junior college league on Thursday by defeating Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on the road. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.