"We have a lot of improvements to make," said Coahoma Community College Head Football Coach Karl Morgan following a controlled scrimmage with Mississippi Delta Community College. "I can say our bright spot remains the offense; but, we have some work to do on the defensive side of the ball."

"We'll know how much we have improved since that scrimmage against Delta (Thursday) night."

Coahoma opens the season on the road against Pearl River Community College (PRCC) in Poplarville with a 7 p.m. kick off. PRCC is about five hours from the CCC campus on I-59 southwest of Hattiesburg.

Morgan and his coaching staff are in their first year together.  He points out that this early in the season, Pearl River has about a one-year advantage on his staff—the 2014 season will be the second for the Wildcats staff and Head Coach William Jones.

Desmond Golston,left, practices pass blocking againstdefensive lineman Jimmico Payne." width="214" height="265" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=14&image_path=/images/2014/8/26/Pass_blocking.JPG" />

Pearl River went 4-5 in 2103, and according to Coach Jones appears to have the ingredients to return back to the top of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC).

Offensively, the Wildcats are returning two linemen in Cyrus Ekugwum and Derrick Isaac, both more than 6-feet tall and weighing in at over 300 pounds. In the backfield, Darrell Robinson, a 5-10, 200-pound running back, is returning for his second season.  He rushed for a team-high 706 yards as a freshman and led Pearl River in scoring with eight TDs.  While a senior in high school, the sophomore set the Mississippi High School Athletic Association scoring record with 52 touchdowns in 2012.

Pearl River will also return three sophomores from last year's team as well as a freshman transfer from Mississippi State University in Jordan Harris who tops out at 6-6 and 340 pounds.

More-than-likely quarterbacking the team will be Independence Community College (KS), transfer Kaylon Cooper, 6-2 and 220 pounds.

"Looking at Pearl River on paper we have our work cut out for us," said Morgan. "They have an All-Region 23 wide receiver returning and they had a good recruiting year at that spot.  Two of the freshman receivers are cousins and caught for a combined 3,000 yards on 200 catches playing for the same high school."

Football at Pearl River Thursday is also going to be a family affair for Anthony Mitchell who will probably start for CCC at quarterback.  When he throws into the defensive backfield of Pearl waiting to defend will probably be his twin brother Antwon Mitchell from Moss Point.

But, protecting Mitchell when he drops back will have its challenges.  Coahoma will have just one returning sophomore on the interior offensive line—Jonathan Bell at center.

"We have been drilling pass protection into our offensive line," says Morgan. "We have some pretty good receivers in our own In Damecio Ewing, K'shun Evans, James Hill, and Tevin Jones.  All of them are sophomores and capable of breaking loose on big plays.  The question is, "Can we give our quarterbacks enough time to pick them out of a crowd?"

"The scrimmage with Mississippi Delta a couple weeks ago showed our flaws and our strengths.  We'll find some answers pretty quick tomorrow night."