CCC earns winning season & first playoff trip

CLARKSDALE – Wild stormy weather, wind, and walls of torrential rains accompanied Coahoma Community College’s march into history here Thursday night with a hard-fought 30-20 win over the Itawamba Indians.

The muddy “slip-sliding-away” victory catapulted the Tigers into a winning season and their first appearance in football playoffs.

CCC will take on the victor of Saturday’s matchup between Gulf Coast and Jones Junior College.

Despite pregame strategy forecasting a defensive battle, CCC’s slippery field bobble of Itawamba’s opening kickoff was a shocker.

It led to an immediate Indian touchdown that didn’t hurt quite as bad when Tiger Nico Jones blocked the PAT.

Coahoma answered with quarterback Keondrick Brown mixing up running plays and a pass to Ladarius Dawson before Kantrel James exploded 62 yards to the end zone. Kicker Reid Gallagher added the go-ahead extra point for a 7-6 lead with 10:27 remaining in the first quarter.

After Indian Ty Ferrell returned the kickoff, Itawamba quarterback Bret Jefcoat’s pass was intercepted by Deangelo Anderson on the 35, but the Tigers were unable to move the ball.

Gallagher’s expertly booted punt, went out of bounds on the 1 yard line – a maneuver that set up CCC’s second score via Devacus Ireland with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter.

The Tigers were out front 14-6, but not for long. With 13 seconds remaining, Itawamba’s Ferrell, Jefcoat, and Justin Bean covered ground into the end zone with a two-point conversion for a 14-point tie.

Hard-driving rain didn’t slow Kantrel James’ run to the 12, but apparently tripped up Brown’s end zone trip. On fourth down, Gallagher split the uprights with a field goal, and Coahoma went ahead 17-14 with 13:04 remaining in the half.

Coahoma’s Big D forced an Indian punt, but the Tigers began slipping in a trail of mud. Gallagher’s punt was blocked and Itawamba raced into TD land for six points but Coahoma blocked their PAT.

In the remaining minutes, Jerrod Jefferson recovered an Indian fumble, but neither team scored.

At halftime, Itawamba led 20-17, but would score no more points in the game. Heavy rains chased sports fans inside any roofed structure – restrooms, concession stands and ticket kiosks.

In the second half Tiger fullback Brodis Toles charged 15-yards inside the 15, and paved the way for Kantrel James to score. A false start penalty negated the touchdown, but he made the trip again.

Gallagher’s PAT was good, and CCC went ahead 24-20.

With 1:40 remaining in the third quarter and Itawamba mounting an offensive drive, Coahoma stripped the ball away and sent Toles and James into end zone territory.

A false start penalty negated a touchdown, and on fourth down, a fake field goal attempt morphed wide receiver Ladarius Dawson into a quarterback with a successful TD pass.

The PAT was no good, but the score expanded to 30-20, and stayed that way til the finale cloudburst.

To reach the playoffs, the Tigers won their last three games – defeating Northeast 20-14 last week in four Ots and Northwest 41-36 the week before.