RAYMOND- For the second straight week the Eagle football team played an opponent ranked in the Top 10 in the Nation, and for the second straight week the Eagles fell in a tightly contested, back and forth battle. East Mississippi defeated Hinds 51-41 Saturday (Oct. 28) in front of a packed crowd in Raymond.

The Eagles opened up the scoring behind a 6-yard touchdown run from running back, DeVante Scott (Scooba). The Eagles, however, failed to convert on the extra point so they led 6-0 with 10:30 left in the 1^st quarter.

The EMCC Lions responded with a 94-yard drive capped off with a touchdown run of 7 yards to take a 7-6 lead with 5:14 left in the 1^st quarter.

The Eagles opened up the second quarter with a bang, when quarterback, Eric Clark (Kemper), connected with Ra'Meik Wallace (Shubuta), from 26-yards out to give the Eagles back the lead 13-7.

Once again, the Lions answered with a 13 play, 66 yard drive, finished off by touchdown run of 6 yards to take back the lead 14-13.

Following a Hinds fumble, the lions took advantage of their great field position and connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 21-13 to head into halftime.

The Eagles received the kickoff to open up the second half, but where forced to punt after a quick 3 and out. The Lions then drove down to the Eagle 1 yard line and ran it in the end zone. They, however, missed an extra point of their own so their lead was just 27-13.

The Eagles then had a nice drive, that was capped off by an 18-yard touchdown run by Ra'Meik Wallace to trim the deficit to 27-20.

The Lions then threatened in the red zone, but the Eagle defense was able to hold them to a 22-yard field goal and just a 30-20 lead.

Following the field goal, the Eagle offense drove 60 yards on 8 plays and trimmed the deficit to 30-26 with 2:00 minutes remaining in the 3^rd quarter when quarterback Tylan Morton (Griffin, Ga), fumbled the ball into the end zone and offensive lineman, John Dale (Scooba), recovered it for the touchdown.  

The trend of answering a score continued, when the Lions ran one in the end zone from 23-yards out to increase their to lead 37-26 to end the 3^rd quarter.

The Eagles came right back to open up the 4^th quarter when John Hightower (Landover, Md) laid out and hauled in the 14-yard touchdown pass from Morton. Morton then ran in the two-point conversion himself to cut the Lion lead to 37-34.

Once again, the Lions could not be contained and finished off a 9-play drive with a 3 yard touchdown run to increase their lead to 44-34 with 11:42 left in the 4^th quarter.

That's right you guess it, the Eagles would answer the Lion's score with a score of their own when Morton found Wallace from 27 yards out for the touchdown, and once again cut the deficit to just three points, 44-41 with 7:41 left in the 4^th quarter.

With momentum on their side, the Eagle defense seemingly forced and recovered a fumble which would of gave the Eagle offense the ball in Lion territory. The call, however, was reversed and the Lions would capitalized on their second chance and score another touchdown from 39 yards out to seal the deal 51-41.

"We need to clean some things up," said Hinds head coach Larry Williams. "It's time to focus on the opportunity in front of us (the playoffs). We're going to be ready to play and represent Hinds Community College next Saturday in Senatobia."

The Eagles will play their first playoff game in the Larry Williams era next Saturday, November 4 against Northwest Community College in Senatobia. Game time is TBA.