Football Places 12 on MACCC All Conference Teams

FULTON, Miss. — Twelve Itawamba Community College football players earned North Division honors as the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference announced its All Conference teams.

Linebacker Orel Gray, wide receiver Nate Branch and offensive lineman Amar Harper were named to the First Team. Gray, from Jacksonville, Fla., led ICC with 48 tackles and matched his career high with 10 stops in a road win over Holmes. He also earned MACCC and NJCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this season.

Branch totaled 482 receiving yards and a team best nine touchdowns. The Hopkins, S.C., native delivered a breakout performance in a comeback win over No. 12 East Mississippi, scoring twice and averaging 20.3 yards per catch.

Harper anchored the Indians offensive line throughout the season. The Magee native entered the year as a JCGridiron Preseason All American Second Team selection.

Five players earned Second Team honors. Return specialist Marcellus Jackson, a Fulton, Tenn., native, totaled 276 return yards and averaged 18.4 yards per return, highlighted by a 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pearl River.

Kicker Eli Burciaga closed his ICC career with 27 extra points and seven field goals, including a career long 48 yarder against East Mississippi. The Corinth native earned MACCC and NJCAA Division I Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice.

Defensive lineman Jarquez Perry finished second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss and recorded 23 total tackles as a freshman. Defensive back Nick Sherman, from Tuscaloosa, Ala., posted 24 tackles, one sack and two interceptions.

ICC placed seven players on the Honorable Mention list. Quarterback Deljay Bailey completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 1,653 yards and posted an 85.7 percent completion rate with three touchdowns in the Indians Homecoming win over Coahoma.

Tight end Bryce Chrestman earned recognition for his blocking contributions. Jackson also made the list as a wide receiver after leading ICC with 581 receiving yards and averaging 64.6 yards per game. He recorded a career high 140 receiving yards, including a 38 yard touchdown, in a road win over East Central.

Offensive lineman Barrett Maddox, from Clinton, Tenn., strengthened the ICC front and entered the year as a JCGridiron Preseason All American Fourth Team pick. Defensive lineman Kole Caldwell finished with 26 tackles, including 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, and delivered a career best seven tackles and a sack against Northeast.

Defensive back Tahj McBride led ICC with three interceptions, including a 72 yard pick six at Mississippi Delta. The Nettleton native added four pass breakups and 19 tackles. Gray also earned Honorable Mention as a defensive back after recording three pass breakups and an interception that helped secure the win at East Central.

ICC finished the season 5-4 overall with a 4-2 record in North Division play.