DECATUR — It was a tale of two halves Saturday afternoon atBill and Louise Bailey Stadium as the East Central CommunityCollege Warriors welcomed the Copiah-Lincoln Community CollegeWolves for Homecoming 2007. It came down to a thrilling finish.

Both teams would combine for 21 points in the final 5 minutes ofthe game. The Wolfpack defense would stop the Warriors 12 yardsshort of the goal line; thus giving Co-Lin a 21-17 MississippiAssociation of Community and Junior College South Division win.

Co-Lin improves to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the South Division.East Central fell to 2-5 and 0-5.

Co-Lin hosts East Mississippi Saturday in Stone Stadium at 5:30p.m. for homecoming. East Central travels to Hinds Thursday.

“We have had several games this year, where we were so close towinning,” said Warrior head coach Terry Underwood. “We just are notconsistent enough in close game.”

Defense ruled the opening 30 minutes. Turnovers and punts killedsome key drives. East Central got the only points of the half on a30-yard field goal by freshman placekicker Derek Crenshaw, with 17seconds in the first quarter.

“Both defenses dominated the first half,” added Coach Underwood,who is in his 10th year at the Decatur-based school. “Neitheroffense was very consistent.”

The Wolfpack took the opening kickoff of the third stanza,marching 53 yards in 7 plays. The 2-minute, 3-second driveculminated with Kentrell Cleveland’s 1-yard burst into the endzone. Will Thibodeaux tacked on the first of 3 PAT kicks for a 7-3Co-Lin lead.

East Central would respond through the airways to reclaim thelead at 10-7 with 6:06 left in the third. On a 1-play march,quarterback Deon Williams found wideout Michael Townsend with a65-yard scoring strike. Crenshaw converted the PAT kick.

After several missed opportunities by both teams, a scoringbarrage would take place during the final 5 minutes. There were 3lead changes during the span.

Following a short East Central punt (22 yards) to the Warrior35, the Wolves went to work on a 6-play, 35-yard march to take a14-10 lead with 4:56 left in the game. Haki Reed, a 6-foot-2, 190pound freshman from Fayette, took in a 3-yard pass from quarterbackMicah Davis for a touchdown. Co-Lin led 14-10.

Underwood’s ballclub jumped back on top 17-14 with 1:45 left onthe clock. Following a 38-yard kickoff return by Freddie Parham,the Warriors went 39 yards in 7 plays. Williams hit fullbackCourtney Shelton with a 13-yard touchdown pass.

On the ensuing kickoff, Crenshaw kicked the ball out of bounds.The Wolves took over at their own 35. A pair of outstanding catchesput Co-Lin in the end zone with 38 seconds left in the game.

With third and 2 at the Wolfpack 43, wideout Jason Bruce made a1-hand grab of a Davis at the East Central 15. On the next play,Davis found split end Toddrick Bajoie at the Warrior 3. Bajoie,(6-1, 190) a freshman from New Roads, La., juggled the ball butwould eventually control the ball and fall into the end zone forthe game-winner.

“Micah did a good job of running the offense in the secondhalf,” said Co-Lin head coach Glen Davis. “Our receivers made somebig plays, especially on the last drive. Toddrick and Jason bothmade outstanding catches.”

It was an evenly-played encounter. Co-Lin racked up 323 yards oftotal offense. East Central had 326 yards with 156 coming on theground.

For the Wolves, Cleveland led all rushers in the game with 84yards on 23 rushes. Davis was 18 of 41 for 206 passing yards, 2touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Bajoie paced the receiving corpswith 82 yards on 8 catches. Bruce added 62 yards on 3receptions.

“Defensively, we played very good today,” Coach Davis added. “Wenever gave up.”

East Central’s Roosevelt Ross, the MACJC’s leading rusher (104.3yards per game), was held to 55 yards on 8 carries.

Townsend led the Warrior receivers with 2 catches for 79yards.