Clarksdale, Miss. - Two teams that are both searching for their inaugural victories on the gridiron in 2015 are set to tangle as the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) season reaches the midway point.
Northeast Mississippi Community College visits fellow MACJC North Division member Coahoma Community College on Thursday, September 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at James E. Miller Stadium.
Those that cannot attend the matchup can watch it live on NEMCCTV, which is the broadcast home of all nine Northeast intercollegiate athletic programs. Join Jeremy Kennedy, the Voice of the Tigers, at 6:30 p.m. for the pregame show by visiting www.nemcctv.com on any computer, smartphone or tablet.
Fans can also keep up with all the action using live in-game updates on Twitter by searching and following @NEMCCTigers. Interact during the contest by using the hashtag #TigerPower across all social media platforms.
Both squads have battled their fair share of ranked opponents. Each of the four adversaries that Northeast has faced to this point appear in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll while Coahoma tested two such opponents.
The two Tigers are very similar statistically. Northeast has the edge in total offense per game at 285-275, but Coahoma has the edge in passing yards with a 212-170 margin.
Dominic Marino heads the homestanding Tigers in that category. He is completing 50 percent of his passes for an overall mark of 769 yards, which is fourth best in the Magnolia State.
A pair of sophomores in Calais Dunn and Keveon Shepherd are the top targets for Marino. The duo has 12 catches and over 100 yards apiece to guide Coahoma (0-4, 0-2).
Gabriel Baldwyn paces the Tigers defensively with 29 takedowns, including a team-high 18 solo stops. Ten of Quartez Roby's 22 tackles are for loss, which is second in the MACJC and tied for sixth countrywide.
"They've got some good looking kids offensively," said Northeast head coach Greg Davis. "We've got to contain the scrambling quarterback and stop them from throwing the ball downfield."
Coahoma has forced four turnovers while the visiting Tigers have accumulated two takeaways. Brandon Tillman accounted for one of those last week against then-No. 7 East Mississippi Community College with a fumble recovery inside the five-yard line.
Special teams should be an interesting factor, especially on kickoff returns. Steven Barnes has 237 yards for the host Tigers while Donta Armstrong has 195 yards on nine attempts for Northeast.
Northeast (0-4, 0-2) is one of the best units in the nation during clutch situations. The Tigers are fourth in the NJCAA with eight fourth down conversions and among the top 15 in moving the chains on third down as well.
Kendrick Doss leads the effort offensively for Northeast from behind center. The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) transfer has tallied three touchdowns through the air and an additional three scores on the ground in a dual-threat role.
Jaylon Fair has progressed nicely between his freshman campaign and present day. The Amory native has already more than quadrupled his catches from one year ago with a team-best 14 through four outings.
Tiberias Lampkin directs a rushing attack for the Tigers that outgains Coahoma on average by over 50 yards each contest. The West Oktibbeha High School graduate has touched the pigskin 59 times for 260 yards.
A mix of newcomers and experienced athletes sit at the pinnacle of Northeast's individual defensive standings. Freshman Demarcus Rogers of Tupelo has 23 stops to lead the Tigers.
A batch of upperclassmen in Brady Smith, Woodrow Prince and Shaquille Bush follow Rogers on the list of tacklers. The trio of defensive backs have combined for over 50 tackles plus a couple of pass break ups.
"The biggest thing for us is to just take care of our own business," Davis said. "They're going to be all right. They go to work everyday and do what they're asked to do. They're a loose group of guys."
The football series between these two institutions has provided some excitement in recent years. Neither squad has won by over two possessions in the last seven meetings.
Northeast is ahead in the all-time series 31-8. The Tigers have captured two consecutive Saturday afternoon victories over Coahoma as part of their 2013-14 homecoming weekends.