Moorhead, Miss. - Justin Williams and the Northeast Mississippi Community College defense stood tall and compiled one of their best performances of the year on Thursday night in a crucial Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division road tilt.
The Tigers held Mississippi Delta Community College to just two scores, which was the lowest point total of any Northeast opponent so far this season. However, the Trojans broke a four-game losing streak in the series with a 14-7 victory at Jim Randall Stadium.
Williams guided the resilient effort by the Tigers with a number of career-highs, including game-bests of 13 tackles, nine solo stops and 3.5 tackles for a loss of 28 yards. The East Oktibbeha High School graduate also tallied one sack and a pass break up.
The 6-1, 275-pound standout is second in the state among defensive linemen with 38 tackles through six outings. He trails Southwest Mississippi Community College's Omarius Bryant by only three takedowns.
"Coach (Ricky Smither) always tells us to play hard and I'm trying to get better each week," Williams said. "I just put everything in God's hands. Without Him I wouldn't be anything."
Mississippi Delta lost 96 yards on offense thanks to 12 tackles for loss by Northeast. Marcus Robinson and Jalen Hadley, who stars on the line with Williams, notched three apiece while Matthew Belue and Jamel Dennis each had one.
Belue had a solid contest in his inaugural appearance as a defensive player. The Golden native, who started the campaign as a tight end and fullback, made five tackles and rocked Trojan quarterback Devin Adams for a loss of 10 yards on his first-ever sack.
The Tigers forced three miscues in one game for the fourth time this season. Johnny Smith accounted for Northeast's 11th fumble recovery of the year, which is tied for second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with Itawamba Community College and Kilgore (Texas) College.
Ralph Green returned an interception deep into Mississippi Delta territory while Darrion Abston recorded a rare pick for a lineman after grabbing a tipped pass by Hadley. The Tigers (2-4, 2-2) have registered 18 turnovers during the 2014 campaign, which is the second most in the MACJC behind only Itawamba.
"The defense played well. I'm really proud of those guys," said Smither, who is in his seventh year as Northeast's head coach. "They went to work and gave us an opportunity to win. We just didn't capitalize on them."
The Trojans went 62 yards on the opening possession of the matchup and took a 7-0 advantage on Roshard Burney's short touchdown scamper. However, Northeast did not allow Mississippi Delta to amass another drive of over 40 yards from that point.
Khalid Kornegay knotted the game in a 7-7 deadlock with his first collegiate touchdown. The Tulsa, Okla., product made a beautiful diving reception in the back of the end zone on a 10-yard pass from Brett Thompson.
The score was set up by a 28-yard gain on a critical third-down play by Donta Armstrong, who led all wideouts with 108 yards and seven catches.
Both squads entered the locker room in a tie after Dennis blocked a field goal attempt by the Trojans' Zacarion Goodman. It was the first time that the Tigers got a hand on an extra point, field goal or punt since Brian Walker had a block at Coahoma Community College in 2012.
Mississippi Delta took the lead permanently with Burney's second touchdown of the evening at the 12:04 mark of the third quarter. Burney topped the Trojans (3-2, 2-1) with 62 rushing yards on 10 attempts.
Thompson was 15 of 31 for 200 yards to direct Northeast's offense. The Lake Cormorant High School alumnus has thrown at least one touchdown pass in five of the Tigers' six outings.
He also became the first Northeast quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in a single season since Emanuel Francis accomplished the feat during the 2007 campaign. The 6-5, 215-pounder has 1,057 total yards, which is third highest in the league, on 84 completions.
Kornegay's three receptions and 51 yards were personal bests. Joe Horn, Jr., followed Armstrong with six catches for 46 yards.
Northeast looks to rebound from its loss on Thursday, October 9 against rival Itawamba. The two adversaries are currently in a tie for fourth place in the MACJC North Division and need a win in order to stay in position to qualify for the state playoffs.
Kickoff between the Tigers and Indians in the 55th meeting between the programs is slated for 7 p.m. at Eaton Field.