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Former Bastrop High quarterback Randall Mackey made a smooth transition to junior college to say the least.
The nation’s leading junior college passer, the 5-11, 190-pound freshman earned NJCAA Region 23 Most Valuable Player honors after directing East Mississippi Community College to its best season of the modern era.
Recalling a preseason coaches meeting, EMCC offensive coordinator Mike Volarvich predicted, “Randall’s going to lead the state in passing and he’s going to lead the state in interceptions.”
Volarvich was right on both counts as the All-America nominee passed for 2,818 yards and 24 touchdowns, while throwing 16 picks.
“Randall’s a gunslinger, a playmaker,” Volarvich said. “We weren’t going to handcuff him. With Randall, the good out-weighed the bad, by far.
“Most of his interceptions were about him being overconfident in his ability; it wasn’t as much about bad reads or throws that he really missed. Randall has a live arm. Most of his interceptions were the result of trying to throw between two defenders, which he can do most of the time.”
Mackey’s arm strength was never in question. Many major college programs, however, were concerned about his height.
“Randall’s height was never an issue in high school and it was never an issue here,” Volarvich said. “It comes down to whether a guy can make plays or not. Randall’s probably 5-11, but he made plays in every game.
“Talking to a lot of people last summer, they said we would have to put him at wide receiver or running back. But Randall’s a quarterback who happens to be a great athlete.”
Showing the escapability that he so often displayed at Bastrop, Mackey rushed for 486 yards and four touchdowns. Most of that yardage came after pass plays broke down.
“We run a pass-first offense,” Volarvich said. “Hardly any of Randall’s rushing yardage came on designed running plays.”
Mackey threw for over 300 yards three times, including a 441-yard outing on 36-of-58 passing during EMCC’s 27-23 comeback road victory over defending co-national champion and then-No. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sept. 18. Mackey threw a touchdown pass in all 10 games, including six outings with at least three scoring tosses.
Mackey and first-year head coach Buddy Stephens were the catalysts for EMCC’s “season of firsts.”
Stephens was named NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year after guiding the Lions (8-2) to their first eight-win season since 1974 and their first MACJC playoff berth since 1984. EMCC was a perfect 6-0 in capturing its first outright North Division title since the state of Mississippi went to divisional play in 1970.
Hosting a playoff game for the first time in school history, the Lions had a seven-game winning streak snapped in a 42-35 loss to Pearl River. The winning streak propelled the Lions to a No. 8 national ranking, their highest since coach Bob (Bull Cyclone) Sullivan’s 10-1-1 EMJC club finished the 1963 campaign ranked No. 7. EMCC is currently ranked No. 13 in the nation.
Former Bastrop High quarterback Randall Mackey made a smooth transition to junior college to say the least.
The nation’s leading junior college passer, the 5-11, 190-pound freshman earned NJCAA Region 23 Most Valuable Player honors after directing East Mississippi Community College to its best season of the modern era.
Recalling a preseason coaches meeting, EMCC offensive coordinator Mike Volarvich predicted, “Randall’s going to lead the state in passing and he’s going to lead the state in interceptions.”
Volarvich was right on both counts as the All-America nominee passed for 2,818 yards and 24 touchdowns, while throwing 16 picks.
“Randall’s a gunslinger, a playmaker,” Volarvich said. “We weren’t going to handcuff him. With Randall, the good out-weighed the bad, by far.
“Most of his interceptions were about him being overconfident in his ability; it wasn’t as much about bad reads or throws that he really missed. Randall has a live arm. Most of his interceptions were the result of trying to throw between two defenders, which he can do most of the time.”
Mackey’s arm strength was never in question. Many major college programs, however, were concerned about his height.
“Randall’s height was never an issue in high school and it was never an issue here,” Volarvich said. “It comes down to whether a guy can make plays or not. Randall’s probably 5-11, but he made plays in every game.
“Talking to a lot of people last summer, they said we would have to put him at wide receiver or running back. But Randall’s a quarterback who happens to be a great athlete.”
Showing the escapability that he so often displayed at Bastrop, Mackey rushed for 486 yards and four touchdowns. Most of that yardage came after pass plays broke down.
“We run a pass-first offense,” Volarvich said. “Hardly any of Randall’s rushing yardage came on designed running plays.”
Mackey threw for over 300 yards three times, including a 441-yard outing on 36-of-58 passing during EMCC’s 27-23 comeback road victory over defending co-national champion and then-No. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sept. 18. Mackey threw a touchdown pass in all 10 games, including six outings with at least three scoring tosses.
Mackey and first-year head coach Buddy Stephens were the catalysts for EMCC’s “season of firsts.”
Stephens was named NJCAA Region 23 Coach of the Year after guiding the Lions (8-2) to their first eight-win season since 1974 and their first MACJC playoff berth since 1984. EMCC was a perfect 6-0 in capturing its first outright North Division title since the state of Mississippi went to divisional play in 1970.
Hosting a playoff game for the first time in school history, the Lions had a seven-game winning streak snapped in a 42-35 loss to Pearl River. The winning streak propelled the Lions to a No. 8 national ranking, their highest since coach Bob (Bull Cyclone) Sullivan’s 10-1-1 EMJC club finished the 1963 campaign ranked No. 7. EMCC is currently ranked No. 13 in the nation.
