Kilgore to face ECCC in JUCO game of HOT Bowl

The bowl committee recently released the JUCO teams to play on December 5th at 11:00 a.m. at Bulldawg Stadium. Representing the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII will be the Texas Champion Kilgore College Rangers as they will matchup against the Warriors from East Central Community College in Mississippi.

 

The Kilgore College Rangers fought through early-season adversity to come out on top, winning the Southwestern Junior College Football Conference Championship game Nov. 7 against Navarro College, 42-28.

 

It was the first time since 2004 that KC has won the championship game. Kilgore College improved to 7-4 on the season and a No.20 national ranking as they enter the bowl game.

 

Kilgore College Head Coach J.J. Eckert said, “We’re thrilled to have been selected to compete in this year’s C.H.A.M.P.S. HOT Bowl. It’s a true testament to the hard work of our players and coaches this season to achieve a bowl bid. We are excited to face the Warriors and look forward to a competitive football game.”

 

The Warriors enter the game with a 7-3 mark on the season and a No. 15 national ranking. Most recently, ten members of the East Central Community College Warrior football team received postseason honors today from the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges and the National Junior College Athletic Association, and Head Coach Ken Karcher was selected as the MACJC South Division Coach of the Year.

 

Four Warriors were named MACJC First Team All-State and six were named MACJC Second Team All-State. Two Warriors were included on the NJCAA All-Region 23 Team.

 

Karcher, in his third year as head coach at East Central, led the Warriors to a 7-3 record and a berth in the semifinals of the MACJC state playoffs. It was East Central’s first playoff appearance since 2001 and the best won-loss record since 1999. East Central finished the season in second place in the MACJC South Division and lost to No. 1 ranked and eventual state champion Northwest Mississippi Community College 27-20 in the state semifinals.

 

Karcher added, “We are very excited to have received an offer to play in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl in Texas. This is a great opportunity for our players, staff and program as we continue building a first class program that is committed to excellence. This will be a great experience for our players. We look forward to competing against a great program like Kilgore College.”