Goodman, Miss. - The Northeast Mississippi Community College football program is working towards its first weekend matchup in two years.
The Tigers will play their final road game of the regular season at Holmes Community College on Saturday, October 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Ras Branch Stadium.
Those that cannot attend the contest can watch it live and in high definition on NEMCCTV. Tune in starting at 2:30 p.m. for the pregame show by visiting www.nemcctv.com on any computer, smartphone or tablet.
The Northeast Broadcasting Network also includes new radio affiliate WOWL Fun 91. An audio simulcast featuring Jody Presley and Carter Smith, the Voices of the Tigers, can be heard on frequencies 91.9 FM from Burnsville, 92.9 FM from Florence, Ala., and 102.3 FM from Killen, Ala.
Search and follow @NEMCCTigers on Twitter for live in-game updates and interact during the matchup by using the hashtag #TigerPower across all social media platforms.
Northeast has not participated in a Saturday afternoon game since October 24, 2015. The Tigers lost to these same Bulldogs by a 56-20 margin in what was the season finale for both ball clubs.
However, the Tigers have found good fortune in weekend tilts over the last six years with four wins in their last six tries in that stretch. The last such victory was a 26-23 decision at Pearl River Community College on October 17, 2015.
Northeast's coaches believe the extra two days of preparation are just what their team needs to prepare for the option offense, which the Tigers see just once each campaign when they play Holmes.
"We got the luck of the draw where we're playing on a Saturday," said Northeast assistant coach Dustin Jones. "We've learned from last year's mistakes by going back and watching what to fix. We really want to stop the run up front. I think we're good in coverage all over the field."
It will take a full defensive effort by the Tigers to slow down and halt the Bulldogs, who are leading the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in rushing yards per game with 348, according to Jones.
"We have to do a good job of being in the right spot at the right time," he said. "The d-line has to attack the offensive linemen. Once we do that then our linebackers have to come up and attack and then the safeties have to come down and fill the alley."
Juwan Taylor, who will play close to his hometown of Jackson, tops Northeast with 54 tackles from his slot at defensive back. Peyton McMahon of DeSoto Central High School tops the linebackers with 48 stops.
The Tigers' defensive line has recorded at least one sack in six of the seven games so far this year. Shannon's J.T. Loving guides that effort with 4.5 sacks while Kylin Washington from Fort Smith, Ark., has 25 tackles, which is the most among Northeast's linemen.
Couple those three units together and the Tigers have a solid defense that ranks fourth overall in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) and second in the North Division with only 312.4 yards allowed per game.
The Bulldogs, who are receiving votes in the latest NJCAA rankings, attempt just 11 passes each outing. The duo of Josh Dodd and Jesse Wilson have combined for six passing touchdowns and five interceptions while splitting time behind center.
Cameryn Brent leads Holmes (5-2, 2-2) with 993 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Five other Bulldogs have over 100 yards on the ground, including 300-plus yard runners Dodd and Wilson.
Northeast (3-4, 2-2) counters offensively with quarterback Desmond Hunter of Wilkinson County High School, who has compiled two straight outings with over 200 passing yards. He now has 757 yards in four starts for the Tigers with eight touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Oxford's Kenzie Phillips has now accumulated over 1,000 yards for his career in a Northeast uniform. He has 614 yards as a sophomore on 149 carries, which is the second most in the Magnolia State.
Toreano Miner from New Orleans, La., is Hunter's top target with 18 catches for 311 yards. However, Hernando's Ross Painter has increased his productivity in recent weeks and now has 15 receptions, 196 yards and two scores.
Vada King and Lorenzo McCaskill are the leading defenders for Holmes with 80 and 78 takedowns, respectively. They have a total of 14.5 tackles for loss and six sacks to their credit as well.
The Bulldogs broke the Tigers' four-game winning streak one year ago with a 41-21 triumph in Booneville. Holmes has won three straight between the two institutions and is also ahead in the all-time series 30-20-1.