ICC falls to East Mississippi, looks to rebound at Coahoma
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

FULTON, MS – ICC fell to 1-4 on the season and 1-2 in the MACJC North after suffering a 51-0 loss to top-ranked East Mississippi Community College on Thursday.

"They are a better football team than we are and it showed," said Coach Sean Cannon. "It's just one of those old fashion ones that you take sometimes."

Despite the score, the #ChopNation saw a great effort from a youthful Indian squad that never threw in the towel against the defending national champions. 

"We grew up a lot tonight, but we are just not very good right now and we have to find a way to dig ourselves out a hole," said Cannon. "We are in a hole right now and we can either tuck tale and run, or we can come out fighting and that's what we're going to find out in these next four weeks."

VIDEO: NATIONAL GUARD POSTGAME REPORT WITH COACH SEAN CANNON

After falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter, the Indians held strong in the second before EMCC was able to knock home a field goal in the final seconds of the quarter to take a 24-0 lead into the break. Clemson transfer Chad Kelly tossed two more touchdown passes in the second half before a 95-yard interception return by Kameron Myers and a seven-yard scoring run by Todd Mays closed out the scoring for the Lions.

Richard McQuarley (Meridian) rushed for 110 yards on 27 carries while catching one pass for six yards. D'Andre Belton (Ridgeway, SC) completed 9-fo-15 passing attempts for 57 yards and one interception with Grant Kimberlin (Olive Branch) hauling in four receptions for 34 yards.

Defensively, the Indians were led by Calwaun Street (Enid) and Devan Gilleylen (Shannon) with seven tackles each while defensive lineman Naquez Pringle (Georgetown, SC) recorded an interception with one tackle along with Levarious Varnado (Calhoun City) forcing a fumble, breaking up two passes, and recording four tackles.

The Indians will look rebound when they hit the road Saturday to take on Coahoma Community College for Homecoming Weekend in Clarksdale.

"We're going to have to rebound in a hurry and come ready to work," Cannon said about getting ready for Coahoma. "They are going to be hungry for a win and a hungry team is always a dangerous team. They proved last year that they are going to fight and claw for that win until that final horn sounds."

Last season, the Tigers upset then No. 20 Indians 47-41 in double overtime on Homecoming.

Saturday's First American National Bank Opening Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with the Davis Ford Pregame Show starting at 12:40 on WAFM 95.7 FM (Amory) and LetsGoICC.com. 

"We're going to have to be ready to play and stop beating ourselves with turnovers and mental mistakes," said Cannon. "Hopefully we as coaches can get our guys prepared for a battle in the Delta to be able to come home with a win."

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