SCOOBA, Miss. — On the bright side, Hinds Community College probably won’t have a tougher opponent than it had in its opener Thursday night.

Michigan State transfer quarterback Messiah deWeaver threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns, Deon McIntosh ran for 84 yards and three more scores, and defending NJCAA national champion East Mississippi steamrolled Hinds 50-0 in the season opener for both teams on Thursday night.

Hinds entered the game ranked No. 13 in the country, but was little match for top-ranked East Mississippi.

McIntosh, a Notre Dame transfer, scored on an 8-yard run 4 1/2 minutes into the game. A bad punt snap by Hinds resulted in a safety on the next possession, and then deWeaver threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Rashad Eades to make it 16-0 with 6:56 left in the first quarter.

Josh Miller’s interception of Tylan Morton’s pass put EMCC back in business. Seven plays later, the Lions went up 23-0 when deWeaver found Kalem Reddix from 17 yards out with 4:13 remaining.
East Mississippi added 20 points in the second quarter, and the second half was played with a running clock under the MACJC’s 38-point mercy rule.

deWeaver did not play in the second half, and finished 25-of-38 passing for his 323 yards, with completions going to 12 different receivers. Reddix led the team with seven receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

EMCC finished with 599 yards of total offense. Hinds finished with 79 yards and committed three turnovers.

Hinds will return to action next Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in its home opener against Mississippi Delta.

East Mississippi will travel to face Pearl River Community College Thursday at 6 p.m. Head coach Buddy Stephens will be going for his 100th career victory.