ICC defeats East Central 35-13 in season opener

ICC defeats East Central 35-13 in season opener
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

DECATUR, MS – The Itawamba Community College rolled up 485 yards of offense and forced five turnovers as the Indians defeated the East Central Community College Warriors 35-13 in a rain-soaked season opener on Saturday.

"I'm really proud of the coaches and our players," said ICC head football coach Jon Williams. "I thought we had a good game plan and executed it nicely in not so good playing conditions, but it was a great way to open the season."

Freshman Andrew Goodman (Charlotte, NC) threw for 358 yards and five touchdowns on 31 of 37 passing with sophomore Rashad Pargo (Aberdeen) caught six passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

"When it started raining like it did I was afraid we weren't going to be as efficient throwing the football, but hats off to Andrew on a great job managing the game and the way we protected the football as a team," said Williams.

"Andrew got the playmakers the ball in open space despite playing on a wet track and with a wet ball," said offensive coordinator Jason McManus. "For a freshman to come in and do what he did in the rain was a really good performance."

The Indians (1-0, 0-0 MACJC North) took a 7-0 lead after Goodman found Pargo for an 11-yard scoring toss. The Warriors (0-1, 0-0 MACJC South) answered with a big kickoff return to set up Colton Kane (Pensacola, FL) for a one-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

Goodman answered with a pair of touchdown passes, 2 yards to sophomore Adrian Brown (Olive Branch) and 69 yards to Pargo, in the second quarter to give the Indians a 21-7 halftime lead.

ICC wasted little time getting the offense rolling in the second half as Goodman found sophomore Demarius Howard (Calhoun City) on a 63-yard catch and run to take a 28-7 lead with 13:27 left in the third quarter.

Howard finished the game with 98 yards and a touchdown on three catches.

Goodman and Pargo combined for their third touchdown of the game when Pargo out jumped a pair of defenders to haul in a 28-yard pass to put the game on ice before Jamere Knox (Salisbury, MD) scored on a three-yard run for East Central. A blocked extra point by Shawn Goree (Shannon) made the final score 35-13 in favor of the Indians.

Pargo also added a 45-yard kickoff return and freshman kicker Tyler Jackson (Oxford) connected on all five extra point attempts and had a touchback on a kickoff.

The Indians defense, led by Brandon Smith (Aberdeen), held the Warriors to 284 yards of total offense. Smith finished with eight tackles, one tackle for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception returned 40 yards to set up a touchdown.

Xavier Walker (Duluth, GA) had eight tackles and an interception while Fred Ward (Aberdeen) added six tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries.

"Our defense really played an attacking style all game," Williams said of the defense.  "The guys up front put a lot of pressure on the quarterback and out DB's did some really good things."

"We were able to do a lot of things we wanted to do because the offense was scoring points," said defensive coordinator Sean Cannon. "I saw our team play together and I thought that was really big for us seeing the defense pull for the offense and the offense pull for the defense."

Kane led the Warriors with 106 yards passing and 20 yards rushing.

"Certainly we're not where we want to be, but I'm happy that we are 1-0," Williams said. "I'm excited to get back on the practice field to some miscues and play again. When you win one like this you really want to get back out and play again."

Saturday's win was the first season-opening win for the Indians since their 2009 21-7 victory over Jones County Junior College.

ICC will host the Southwest Community College Bears (0-0, 0-0 MACJC South) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 6 at Eaton Field.

The Bears were scheduled to play Northwest Mississippi Community College (0-0, 0-0 MACJC North) but the game was eventually canceled due to safety concerns, playing condition and travel concerns due to Hurricane Isaac.