A tough road loss at Northeast for the Trojans.

Much like a brand new used card driving off the lot, all was fine.

For a short time.

Mississippi Delta Community College built a two-touchdown lead and carried an advantage into halftime Thursday night on the road in Booneville, but Northeast Mississippi Community College controlled the second half to hand the Trojans a 35-17 loss at Tiger Stadium.

The wheels fell off in the second half even though MDCC scored the game’s first 14 points and led 17-7 late in the second quarter. The Tigers roared back like a “Certified Used Cadillac” and answered with 28 consecutive points. The Trojans were held scoreless after halftime and slipped to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Running back Kijuan McMillan put Mississippi Delta on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run at the 6:35 mark of the first quarter. Noel Mora added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Trojans doubled the margin early in the second quarter. Quarterback Armon Vinson connected with Monclair Brave for an 18-yard touchdown with 12:35 remaining in the half, and Mora’s kick made it 14-0.

Northeast broke through on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Xae Mayes to Isaiah Cobbs, but Mississippi Delta responded with a nine-play, 55-yard drive. Mora finished it with a 30-yard field goal, pushing the Trojans’ lead to 17-7 with 5:30 left before halftime.

The Tigers trimmed the deficit to 17-14 on Mayes’ 4-yard touchdown run with 3:12 left in the second quarter, then took the lead for good after the break.

“I think in the first half we came out, the offense had some explosive plays and capitalized on them, and that put us in a situation where we could go up 14-0,” MDCC head coach Jermaine Smith said. “Then they had a decent drive on us to make it 14-7, and we gave up an explosive touchdown to them (50 yard TD pass) that should not have happened.”

Northeast’s Mayes found Brooks Wallis for a 41-yard touchdown just 2:55 into the third quarter. Dee Bingham added a 2-yard scoring run less than three minutes later, and Glen Singleton’s 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth completed the Tigers’ comeback.

Mississippi Delta outgained Northeast 367-362 and produced 19 first downs, but the balance tilted sharply on the ground. Vinson completed 29 of 47 passes for 292 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, while the Trojans managed only 75 rushing yards on 29 attempts. Northeast rushed for 201 yards on 47 carries and finished with 24 first downs.

The Trojans converted 6-of-17-third downs and 2-of-4 fourth downs. Northeast went 7-of-13 on third down and held the ball for 31:49, compared with 28:11 for MDCC.

Penalties also made the uphill climb steeper for Mississippi Delta. The Trojans were flagged 10 times for 105 yards, while Northeast drew six penalties for 51 yards. MDCC’s defense recorded three sacks for 14 yards and an interception that was returned 27 yards, but the Tigers’ four sacks cost the Trojans 23 yards.

Coach Smith pointed to a fumble, a blocked punt and the penalty total as the turning points. “When you start having negative plays, the big one for me, outside of the explosives, was 10 penalties for 105 yards,” he said.

“Any time you’re trying to move the ball on offense and you’re killing yourselves with penalties, it’s hard to get something going consistently. I think we beat ourselves more than anything else.”

The Trojans also entered the game with a depleted secondary. Smith said MDCC was without both starting cornerbacks and both safeties, forcing less-experienced players into larger roles.

“I don’t make any excuses. It is what it is. You’ve got to have everybody ready to play,” Coach Smith said. “But when your roster is 65, sometimes you have to get down to guys who are really just not ready. Last night, we had to play some guys that the moment might have been a little too big for.”

Smith said fatigue contributed to missed tackles in the second half, but he placed responsibility on the entire program.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got to coach them better because it’s not a blame game,” he said. “I’ve got to coach the coaches better, and we’ve got to put a better product on the field. It’s a ‘we thing.’ It’s not a ‘them thing.’”

Despite the loss, the Trojans showed another glimpse of their potential with 17 first-half points and 292 yards through the air. Their task now is turning that early efficiency into a complete four-quarter effort as the conference schedule continues.

In the MACCC North standings through Oct. 8, Mississippi Delta is tied with Holmes at 1-2 in division play. Itawamba and Northwest share the lead at 4-0, East Mississippi is 2-1, Northeast is 1-3 and Coahoma is 0-4. The Trojans remain fourth in the division order with a 2-5 overall record.

Next up for the Trojans is their homecoming matchup with MACCC North rival Coahoma, coached by former MDCC standout, national championship player and Baird native Larry Williams. Coahoma enters the game 0-7 overall and 0-4 in division play, giving Mississippi Delta an opportunity to climb above the middle of the North standings.

Smith warned that Coahoma’s record does not reflect the threat it presents.

“Coahoma’s a good ball club. I think they play hard, and I think they have a really good head coach,” he said. “Larry Williams is going to have his guys ready to play. Larry is from Moorhead, so he’s going to come in here with a chip on his shoulder.”

Smith said Williams has helped him navigate the MACCC in his first season, but their friendship will pause between the whistles.

“It’ll be nothing but love and hugs,” Smith said. “But in between that time, we’re on the battlefield.”

Smith said Coahoma has explosive skill players, solid quarterback play and the ability to run the football. Defensively, he said the Tigers use their athleticism well and put players in position to produce. His message to the Trojans during a distraction-filled homecoming week is straightforward.

“We have to stop being our biggest enemy. Once we figure that out, then you’ll see a football team that plays four quarters.”

Game time will be Thursday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Sandy Wilson Field/Jim Randall Stadium.

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Fast start fades as Trojans fall 35-17 at Northeast