Shop Here for Short Sales and Foreclosures

Conventional wisdom says Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is in position to play for a national championship.

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA/JC Football.com preseason poll behind No. 1 Butler, Kansas, Community College. The poll was released Thursday.

MGCCC is coming off a 10-2 season and return six starters on offense and six on defense. The Bulldogs defeated Georgia Military in the inaugural Mississippi Bowl last December, winning 41-7. Georgia Military is ranked No. 6 nationally in the preseason.

Pearl River, the South Division’s runner-up last year, is ranked 11th. Quarterback Emil Jones is back to lead the Wildcats (8-3), as is NJCAA Preseason All-American defensive tackle Charles Deas.

“It’s a tribute to the guys who have played here and have built the program up,’’ Bulldog head coach Steve Campbell said. “It puts the target on your back. We’re the defending state champion. But this ranking magnifies it.’’

Butler was 11-1 in 2008.

“Preseason poll recognition is great,” Wildcats coach Tim Hatten said. “But in the long run, polls don’t mean a thing if you don’t produce wins on the football field. In our league, everybody we face is a challenge.”

East Mississippi, Jones County and Northwest join the Bulldogs and Wildcats in the national poll, giving the Magnolia state five ranked teams.

East Mississippi (8-2), coached by former Pearl River co-offensive coordinator Buddy Stephens, is ranked sixth. The Lions won the North Division last year.

Jones County (7-2) comes in at 14th. Northwest (6-4), the North Division runner-up, is ranked 19th.

Gulf Coast hosts Northwest in its Aug. 27 opener on the new artificial turf of A.L. May Stadium in Perkinston. They visit East Mississippi on Sept. 17, host Pearl River on Sept. 24 and visits Jones on Oct. 24.

Gulf Coast defensive tackle Wayne Dorsey (6-foot-8, 245) is a NJCAA second-team preseason All-American.

Posted at www.sunherald.com on July 30, 2009

• Your Home Value
• Mortgage Center
• Different Types of Loans
• Refinancing
• Closing Costs
• Length of Your Mortgage
• Saving for the Down Payment
• Leveraging Your Money
• How Mortgage Loans Work
• When To Pay Points
• Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
• How Much Can You Afford?
• Getting Your Finances in Order
• Your Credit History
• Mississippi Coast has numerous, beautiful golf courses.
• Mortgage Glossary
• Neighborhood Information
• Free Moving Quote from 123Movers.com