TIGERS STUMBLE IN SEASON OPENER

BOONEVILLE, Miss.-- A trip to Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss. was not kind to the Northeast Tigers in their opening football game of the 2007 season. Jones used four touchdown runs by sophomore tailback Jasper Ducksworth, along with two defensive scores to pull away for a 39-9 victory.

Ducksworth put the Bobcats on the scoreboard first with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. Northeast would then have the opportunity to tie the game at seven after an eight-play, 50-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Emanuel Francis. However, the Tigers’ extra point attempt missed wide-right leaving the score 7-6 in Jones County’s favor.

A Jonathon Beard 32-yd field goal in the second quarter would complete the scoring for Northeast on the night, while Jasper Ducksworth added two more first half touchdown runs (1, 20) to the give JCJC a 20-9 halftime lead.

Defensive back Elliott McGaskin stole the show in the second half for Jones County with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown off Northeast backup quarterback Layton Jones, and later a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Coach Andy Greening’s Tigers were led on defense by sophomore linebacker Courtney Sanders who logged eight tackles (7 solo) and 2.5 tackles for losses.

On offense, Northeast out gained the Bobcats 289 yards to 255, and were led in rushing by sophomore Cederian Drew who totaled 125 yards on 12 carries.

Quarterback Emanuel Francis had a solid night through the air and on the ground. The signal caller from Tallahassee, Florida, was 10-of-15 passing for 113 yards, no interceptions, and no touchdowns. He netted 14 yards rushing on the night including his first quarter touchdown run.

Northeast had several scoring opportunities in the second half, including one 32-yard touchdown pass from Francis to sophomore receiver Anthony Jones that was nullified due to a holding penalty.

The Tigers will be at home next Thursday night, September 6, where they are set to host Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

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