Don’t let the score fool you. It was a battle of defenses in Booneville Thursday night as it took four overtimes for the Coahoma Community College Tigers (5-3) (3-2) to defeat the Northeast Mississippi Community College Tigers (2-6) (2-3) by a score of 20 – 14.

CCC entered the contest knowing that they needed to win this week and next week to be in the playoffs. They are currently in a three way tie for that playoff spot, but this week’s win may be the boost they need to bring it home. And they needed a boost after hearing the news that team rushing leader Courtney Vaughn may be out for the year with a knee injury.

The NE Tigers were the first on the scoreboard by marching down the field like most coaches plan for their teams to do, and it suddenly looked like it might be a long evening for the CCC faithful. After the kickoff, it didn’t take long to see that the front four of the NE defense was intent on not allowing any yards running by CCC and the first quarter ended with the score CCC-0, NE-7.

CCC’s turn at the ball to start the second quarter was short lived as the CCC runner was stripped of the ball and the NE defense ran it into the end zone for their second score of the night. This made the score CCC-0, NE-14.

The kickoff gave CCC yet another chance to score. But with the NE defense focusing on CCC’s Kantral James who struggled to find any yardage, Quarterback Garrick Jones soon took to the air. It was a good decision as he connected with Ladarius Dawson for the first CCC score. The PAT kick by Reed Gallagher was on target and the score was CCC-7, NE-14. It would remain that way until the fourth quarter.

Both offenses struggled under the weight of each other’s defenses until CCC Quarterback Keondrick Brown connected with a pass to Hollis Moore II for a 58 yard TD pass. Again, the PAT by Gallagher was up and good. The score was now tied at 14-14.

Late in the fourth quarter, Brown again connected with Moore who made a spectacular diving catch to help set up the field goal attempt with 2 seconds left on the clock. Unfortunately, the kick went wide and the two Tiger teams went into overtime.

Community college football overtimes start with a coin toss to see who goes first. Both teams get a chance to score from the 25 yard line. If both teams score the same or neither team scores, it goes to another OT period. And so the defenses reigned supreme until the fourth OT.

CCC went for a field goal on each of the first three Ots and saw each attempt fail. Then in the fourth OT
NE failed to score in their attempt when a pass was intercepted by Nico Jones who was pushed out of bounds, and the ball went over to CCC for their attempt from the 25. Devacus Ireland moved the ball closer to the end zone in two rushing attempts before Brown found Moore standing in the end zone all by himself. The score ended the game with the final being CCC-20, NE-14.

Charles Harris, Decante Walker, Nico Jones, Jared Washington and Gerald Oriol, JR. should be noted for their outstanding defensive plays.

Next week the CCC Tigers will continue their quest for a playoff spot as they face Itawamba at home.