WESSON — In a season of rebuilding struggles and plagued withinjuries, the East Central Community College Warriors host theCo-Lin Wolfpack Saturday for homecoming in Decatur. Kickoff is 2:30p.m., for the South Division clash.

In other South Division games Saturday, Hinds (4-2, 1-2) visitsSouthwest (2-4, 1-2) for a 7 p.m. homecoming game and Jones County(6-0, 3-0) is at 4-time defending state champion Pearl River (5-1,2-1) in Poplarville.

Co-Lin, 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the South Division, has lost 3straight games, the last debacle a 37-0 shutout at Hinds inRaymond. East Central (2-4, 0-4) won its first two games of theseason against North Division members East Mississippi and Delta.However, the Warriors have lost 4 straight since starting SouthDivision action, falling 41-24 to Gulf Coast last week.

“East Central has struggled like us lately, since they got inthe South Division,” said Co-Lin head coach Glenn Davis. “They haveone of their better teams but they are in the South Division,”which includes 3 teams ranked in the NJCAA’s Top 10 nationalpoll.

ECCC is powered by running back Roosevelt Ross (5-8, 195) , asophomore from Ocala, Fla. Ross is the MACJC’s leading rusher with624 yards and 9 touchdowns in 6 games. He averages 6.9 yards perrush.

The Warriors have a talented transfer quarterback in DeonWilliams (5-11, 190, soph.) , from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Williams haspassed for 603 yards and 6 TDs.

“Ross and Williams make them go,” said Davis. “Their offensivelinemen are wide bodies and they’ve been able to run the ball. Theyrun the option a lot.”

Davis said the Warriors are strong on defense, too.”Defensively, they haven’t been dominant but they play steady.”

The Warriors boast the MACJC’s leading tackler in linebackerDavid Brackett (6-1, 190, soph.), from nearby Philadelphia.Brackett has amassed 61 solo tackles and 21 assists.

ECCC is under the direction of Terry Underwood, a Delta Stategraduate. Underwood (39-51) is in his 10th year at the helm. Histeam was winless (0-6) in the South last season and finished 2-7overall.

Wolves Recovering

“We are still fighting injuries,” said Davis. His team finished9-3 last season and won the South Division title, plus a 21-0victory over Georgia Military College in the Sea Island GoldenIsles Classic in Brunswick, Ga. The Wolves were ranked No. 6 in thefinal NJCAA poll.

Davis said the injuries have spread to the defensive unit. “Ithas caught up with us defensively, now.” Preseason All-Americandefensive end Raven Gray (knee) and freshman linebacker WilfordJernette (hip) are among the latest casualties.

“With a 55-man roster, that makes it tough to replace players,”Davis pointed out. “We are still making a lot of mistakes onoffense.”

Against Hinds, Co-Lin was held to 127 yards total offense. TheWolves are averaging just 6 points per game. By comparison,opponents average 23.1 ppg.

Freshman quarterback Micah Davis completed 21 of 46 passes for140 yards and threw 1 interception against Hinds. Wide receiverJason Bruce caught 4 passes for 36 yards. Sophomore fullbackKentrell Cleveland rushed 9 times for 21 yards.

Wolf Tails: Quarterback Cedric Johnson ran for2 touchdowns and Kentario Hardy returned a fumble 36 yards foranother TD as Co-Lin beat East Central 23-10 in a homecoming gamelast season at Wesson. Johnson completed 10 of 17 passes for 123yards and threw 3 interceptions in the comeback win.