Eagles Drop Nail-Biter to Lions

Website Thursday night’s contest between the Hinds Community College Eagles and the East Mississippi Community College Lions featured two highly-potent offenses that engaged in a defensive struggle throughout much of the game, but it was the visiting Lions who escaped Raymond with a 20-17 victory over Hinds. Hinds is now 1-1 on the season, and the ninth ranked Lions now sit at 2-0. Things looked bleak for Hinds in the early going, as East Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace found Lacoltan Bester for a three-yard touchdown pass just over 100 seconds in the game. Taylor Walker added the point after and the Lions led 7-0. Walker added a 28-yard field goal later in the quarter to put the Lions up 10-0. Deon Anthony of New Iberia, La., a sophomore quarterback for Hinds, connected with Quantavius Leslie of Hogansville, Ga., a freshman wide receiver, for a 20-yard touchdown strike as time expired in the first quarter. Kyle Williams of Pearl, a sophomore kicker, added the extra point to cut the East Mississippi lead to 10-7. Walker added another 27-yard field goal to put the Lions up 13-7, but Williams responded with a 19-yard field goal for Hinds to put the scoring at 13-10 in favor of East Mississippi, a lead they would hold heading into the half. The Williams field goal was set up by a Tavarius Wilson interception and 21-yard return to set up good field position for the Eagles. Wilson is a sophomore linebacker from Jackson. Rodriquez Moore of East Mississippi, who finished with 23 carries, 202 yards and one touchdown, scored on a 10-yard run and the Walker PAT pushed the Lions lead to 20-10 with 10:14 left in the third quarter. Anthony, who finished the night with 16 carries, 31 yards and one touchdown and was 8-22 passing for 124 yards and one touchdown, scampered in from two yards out for the score with 6:02 left in the game. The Williams point after cut the lead to 20-17, but the Eagles could do no more, thus falling in a valiant effort. Hinds will return to action next Thursday, this time traveling to Wesson to face Co-Lin Community College in the opening South division matchup for both teams. Game time is set for 7 p.m.]]]]> ]]>