Trojans Headed to Clarksdale Looking For Win #1

Trojans Headed to Clarksdale Looking For Win #1

By Mark H. Stowers

Two bitter rivals – The Trojans of Mississippi Delta Community College and the Tigers of Coahoma Community College will go head-to-head tonight at James E. Miller Stadium, home field for the Tigers. The winner will be, well, a winner. Each team is 0-8 for the MACCC football season.

Both teams have first-year coaches as Trojan Head Coach Ernest Jones stepped up to the top job just weeks before the season started. On the Tiger sideline stands Head Coach Larry Williams. A man with years of coaching experience in the MACCC most recently with Hinds Community College. He wears a JUCO National Championship ring from 1993 when he donned the Trojan red and black.

Neither season has been what either coach was hoping or looking for. No wins, few points, injuries and with the Tigers – suspensions from a brawl when they travelled to Northeast's homecoming on October 23 and lost, 45-7.

Trojan Head Coach Ernest Jones knows it won't be easy but his team is ready for the Tigers.

"It's a big rivalry game and the kids are excited. There's a lot of energy in the building this week," Coach Jones said. "They are excited as they've been all year."

He noted the Trojans lost to East last week but the team played well putting points on the scoreboard and racking up some yardage. But it's another week in the MACCC, the toughest JUCO football conference in America.

"Their quarterback is athletic as heck. He can run with the ball and he can throw the ball and we have to know where he is all of the time," Coach Jones said. "They have a tackle that's a Division 1 player and we have to know where he is. ON defense, they have a good d-lineman and a safety that's really, really good. They've got good players but they've been struggling. But they are our rivals and we're both 0-8 and somebody's coming out of there with a win. It's their field and their house, their locker room – everything is in their favor. We've got to have our minds ready to compete for four quarters and end our season with a win."

The Trojans have some players back, including starting quarterback Evans Schippers, who was 6-for-6 passing.

"Chance Ross was back and ran the ball well. We've got guys back and we feel pretty well. We've got guys coming back and they all want to play this week against our rival," Coach Jones. "Our defense has been consistent all year no matter who we've played. With our offense getting some energy last week, we look for that energy to keep going this week."

In going against Moorhead hometown legend Larry Williams, Coach Jones has been appreciative of Coach Williams and his leading of the Coaches Association and more.

"He's a guy who, whenever you have a question, he has the answer. I know he'll have his team ready to go and I'll have my team ready to go," he said.

Watch the game here: https://coahomasports.com/watch/?Live=684&type=Live