Fulton, Miss. - Khalid Kornegay has proven himself to be another elite threat in Northeast Mississippi Community College's receiving corps during the home stretch of his freshman season.
Kornegay caught his second touchdown pass in as many games during the Tigers' matchup at Itawamba Community College on Thursday night. However, the Indians broke away from a close contest in the second half to claim a 38-19 win at Eaton Field in the annual clash between the two rivals.
The 6-2, 180-pounder from Tulsa, Okla., leaped over Itawamba defender Quinton Lane and made a two-handed grab to complete an acrobatic 13-yard touchdown from Trace Lee. The score capped a quick six-play drive that took just over three minutes and gave Northeast a 10-3 advantage.
"Preparation is the key," said Kornegay. "You've got to have a purpose and play for the guys next to you. When you do that anything is possible. I'm real confident in what I can do for the team."
Kornegay notched career-highs with 55 receiving yards on five catches. He was one of seven wideouts that hauled in at least one pass from the Tiger quarterback duo of Brett Thompson and Lee.
Lee recorded some incredible numbers during his inaugural start at Northeast. The Columbus native was 25 of 39 for 312 yards, which was the most by any Tiger signal caller since current University of Arizona standout Jerrard Randall tallied 357 yards versus Jones County Junior College last season.
"I grade myself as an okay. I think there are different areas that can get better," Lee said. "I learn from week-to-week and give God the glory through it all because we understand without Him we wouldn't be where we are today."
The Indians (3-4, 3-2) knotted the contest at 10-10 shortly after Kornegay's beautiful snag when Kwadra Griggs connected with Grant Kimberlin for a 48-yard touchdown.
Cesar Resendiz broke the tie less than one minute into the second period. The Horn Lake High School graduate was successful on a 41-yard field goal, which was his second make of the game and a personal best at the collegiate level, to put Northeast ahead 13-10.
Itawamba took its first lead of the matchup late in the opening half on Richard McQuarley's 43-yard scamper. The Indians maintained their 17-13 advantage at the break after Quindarius Thagard recovered a Northeast fumble on its ensuing drive.
McQuarley extended his good fortune following the intermission with touchdown runs of one and six yards, respectively. He also added a 20-yard scoring reception from Griggs to help Itawamba pull away in the latter portion of the game.
Donta Armstrong wrapped up another solid outing for the Tigers (2-5, 2-3) when he snatched a 12-yard touchdown toss from Lee with under one minute remaining on the clock. It was the fourth score of the campaign for the freshman sensation that hails from Pittsboro.
Armstrong tied a career-high with 120 yards on six catches against the Indians. He became the first Northeast student-athlete in at least seven years to produce three consecutive 100-plus yard performances at wide receiver.
Chester Lewis led the Tigers' attack on the ground with a personal best 108 yards on 22 touches. The Gluckstadt product nearly doubled each of his rushing statistics for the entire season after entering the contest with 91 yards and 30 carries.
Northeast compiled over 400 yards of offense for the second time this year. The Tigers accounted for a season-best 463 yards in their homecoming victory over Coahoma Community College on September 27.
Jamel Dennis and Brady Smith paced Northeast on defense with seven tackles apiece. Dennis, who was named to JCGridiron's Preseason Watch List at linebacker, continues to top the Tigers with 48 total stops.
Johnny Smith and Jacoby Smith both fell on loose fumbles for Northeast during the fourth quarter. The Tigers have forced at least two turnovers in each of their seven games in 2014.
"All in all, I'm proud of our team. We just made too many mistakes," said Northeast head coach Ricky Smither. "We've got to come out in practice and play with intensity the next two weeks."
The Tigers step outside of Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division play for the final time during this campaign on Thursday, October 16 when Pearl River Community College visits the City of Hospitality for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
The matchup against the Wildcats will serve as Northeast's annual Pink Out Game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink items of clothing in support of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A special breast cancer walk around campus is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and costs $5 to enter.
Free pink pompoms are available inside Tiger Stadium. In addition, the Air Evac Lifeteam base in Corinth will make a special pregame presentation at approximately 6:10 p.m. to members of the Northeast staff that have survived their fight against breast cancer.