Booneville, Miss. - Northeast Mississippi Community College is set to take up a great cause during its final home game during the 2015-16 gridiron campaign.
The Tigers welcome Itawamba Community College at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 8 for its annual Pink Out Game. Everybody is encouraged to wear pink items of clothing to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Among the pregame festivities is a special presentation at approximately 6:05 p.m. by the Air Evac Lifeteam base in Corinth to members of the Northeast staff that have won their respective battles against this dreadful illness.
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 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 by listening to a simulcast on WBIP-AM 1400. Search and follow @NEMCCTigers for live in-game updates on Twitter and interact during the contest by using the hashtag #TigerPower across all social media platforms.
"This game is very important because of bragging rights," said Tigers head coach Greg Davis. "It's houses divided a lot of times. Our communities are so closely niched. We know that going into this game."
Both clubs are coming off their own homecoming matchups. Northeast lost a tight contest versus Mississippi Delta Community College while the Indians defeated Coahoma Community College.
The Tigers are led by sophomore sensation Donta Armstrong, who was selected as the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) Special Teams Player of the Week after compiling 298 total return yards against the Trojans.
The Bruce High School alumnus currently ranks second among all athletes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with 183 punt return yards overall this season.
Armstrong is also one of four Northeast (1-5, 1-3) receivers that have accumulated at least 10 catches and over 100 yards. Joining him on that list is Jaylon Fair, L.J. Hawkins and Joe Horn, Jr.
West Oktibbeha High School graduate Tiberias Lampkin guides the Tigers on the ground with 88 touches, 428 yards and two touchdowns. Dual threat quarterback Bailey Walker of Lake Cormorant follows him 6.4 yards per rush.
Austin Holloway made the first two field goals of his career one week ago. The Booneville native has accounted for 21 points, which is second on the squad behind only Kendrick Doss.
A handful of freshmen have emerged defensively for Northeast this year. Tupelo High School's Demarcus Rogers paces the unit with 34 tackles and is tied with fellow newcomer Brandon Tillman for a team-high 18 solo stops.
Woodrow Prince and Brady Smith direct the backfield for the Tigers. The duo has combined to amass 58 takedowns and five pass break ups during their final campaign in the City of Hospitality.
Anthony Rush of Raleigh, N.C., tops Northeast with eight tackles for loss and three sacks. Pontotoc's Nicky Martin is not far behind and has 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and a pair of sacks.
Kwadra Griggs makes Itawamba's offense move from behind center. He has recorded 1,328 yards through the air with 12 touchdowns and is completing nearly 60 percent of his pass attempts.
Grant Kimberlin is the most frequented target for Griggs with 23 grabs for 204 yards. Dominic Walker holds team-highs of 225 receiving yards and four touchdowns for the Indians.
Kendarius Hibbler and Artez Williams have forced two turnovers apiece on the opposite side of the pigskin. Quinn Tiggs has four pass break ups as well for Itawamba (3-3, 2-2).
"They're going to spread you and run the football a little bit," Davis said. "They're talented up front on the defensive line. We know that they're going to bring pressure when we go in different formations. So we know what to expect."
The two rivals met in Fulton during each of the past two seasons with the Indians winning both of those matchups. Itawamba is also ahead in the all-time series 36-16-3.