Errors haunt No. 14 Indians in 34-28 loss to East Central

FULTON, Miss. – A pair of blocked punts and untimely fourth quarter penalties proved to be too much for the No. 14 Indians to overcome in a 34-28 loss to East Central.  

East Central (1-1) recovered a blocked punt in the end zone to take a 7-0 lead over the Indians (1-1) before a second blocked punt on the Indians' next drive quickly put the Warriors up 14-0 at the 10:37 mark of the first quarter.

The Indians got on the scoreboard on a 37-yard pass to Kevarius Brown (Grenada) from Spencer Unruh (Caledonia) to make it a 14-7 contest after a Caleb Comer (Caledonia) extra point.

Unruh completed 13 of 29 passing for 132 yards with a touchdown and interception. Brown had 62 yards and a touchdown on four catches.

For the second-straight week the Indians went into halftime down 27-7 after Mario Asagunla threw his second touchdown pass of the game for the only score in the second quarter.

De'Sean Dinkins (Warner Robins, Ga.) scored on a 17-yard run before Jamel Thomas (Caledonia) caught a 14-yard scoring toss from Clark Mills (Ecru) to make it a 27-21 contest in favor of the Warriors with 1:29 left in the third quarter.

Mills was 10 of 19 passing for 118 yards and a touchdown and rushed for six yards on three carries. Thomas had eight catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Dinkins rushed for 27 yards and a score on 8 carries and caught a pass for seven yards.

After bumping into the punt returner on a fair catch and a facemask on the following play, the Indians helped move the Warriors to the 33-yard line. Asagunla threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game to take a 34-21 advantage.  

Wadlington scored on a four-yard run to make it a 34-28 game with 9:11 left in the final frame. The Indians' defense forced a missed field goal and the offense promptly marched down to the 10-yard line before missing on a fourth down pass attempt allowing East Central to escape Fulton with the victory.

Wadlington rushed for 90 yards and a score on 10 carries and hauled in a pair of catches for 10 yards.

For a second-straight week, Tay Carothers (Aberdeen) led the Indians with 14 tackles (11 solo; 3 assists) with a half sack and two-and-half tackles for loss. Dalton Combs (Nettleton) had an interception.

The Indians will host No. 1 East Mississippi to open MACJC North Division play on Military Appreciation Night on Thursday. The Lions (2-0) defeated Pearl River (0-2) 59-10 last week. The First American Bank opening kickoff is schedule for 6:30 p.m. The game will be available on LetsGoICCTV.com/RED and ESPN Mississippi 95.1 FM starting with the Davis Ford Pregame Show at 6:00 p.m.

Past and current members of the armed forces will be honored during the game. Special activities will include a salute during halftime and admission will be free to all past and current armed forces members and their families.

In addition, ICC is partnering with the American Legion Post 49 in Tupelo to collect items for care packages for more than 4,000 Mississippi National Guard soldiers who are currently deployed in Kuwait. Those who attend are encouraged to bring items including toiletries, food and personal items. A complete list of items needed is available on the Legion's Facebook page.

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