FULTON, Miss. - Dan Ellington (Olive Branch) threw four touchdown passes and ran for two more scores as ICC defeated rival Northeast Mississippi Community College 68-28 in front of a packed house Thursday night.
The Indians (3-3, 2-1 MACJC North) jumped out to a commanding 26-0 lead before the Tigers (2-4, 1-2 MACJC North) got on the board with a 22-yard interception return with 1:29 left in the second quarter. ICC answered when Ellington found Terry Williams (Southaven) on a 12-yard pass to take a 33-7 lead with seven seconds left in the first half.
Business picked up in the third quarter as the two rivals combined for 35 points.
VIDEO: Indians leave no doubt against rival Northeast, 68-28
Northeast cashed in on a muffed punt with a 13-yard pass to make it a 33-14 contest before Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards inside the first two minutes of the third quarter. The Tigers made it 40-21 on a 19-yard pass midway through the quarter but the Indians answered with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Malik Honeycutt (Tallahassee. FL).
Leading 47-28 heading into the fourth quarter, the Indians got a 9-yard touchdown run by Kadarius Forside (West Point), a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jamel Thomas (Caledonia), and a 60-yard punt return from Honeycutt to take a 40-point with 6 minutes, 28 seconds left in the game before cruising to the victory.
Ellington scored on a 1-yard run, Caleb Comer (Caledonia) made a pair of field goals from 22 and 26 yards out and Christian Saulsberry (Southaven) hauled in a 28-yard pass for a touchdown in the first quarter.
The Indians racked up 553 yards of offense behind 438 yards on 28 of 38 passing and 74 yards on 16 carries from Ellington. Williams hauled in 7 catches for 138 yards with Honeycutt adding 105 yards on 5 catches. Forside rushed for 46 yards on 9 carries.
The Indians' 68 points were the most points ICC had scored in a game since 1971 when the Indians defeated the Tigers 72-22.
BONUS VIDEO: Indians chop down Northeast, 68-28
Daylon Fox (Southaven) led ICC with 10 tackles on the night. Jarvis Hayes (Slocomb, AL) had 4 tackles and returned an interception 40 yards to set up an Indian touchdown. Que Lott (Grenada) added 4 tackles and a fumble recovery that set up another ICC touchdown.
ICC improves to 38-17-3 all-time against Northeast.
The Indians will travel to Clarksdale to take on Coahoma Community College (1-5, 0-3 MACJC North) next Thursday. The Tigers will look to rebound from a 35-0 loss at No. 11 Northwest Mississippi Community College (4-1, 3-1 MACJC North).
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