Matthew Will
Managing Editor
After a successful season three, Last Chance U returns for another year at KJCCC school Independence Community College. Independence Head Coach Jason Brown impressed both local fans as well as the national audience with a 9-2 record as well as a conference championships.
At first, the season met some negative feedback, as the original Last Chance U theme showed a championship caliber team in East Mississippi, this season lacked a certain championship feel. Indy was fresh off a 5-4 season, the first winning season in 10 years. Things were not quite “looking up” for the Pirates. Brown had another plan.
Independence’s season did not start well, losing 70-21 to Iowa Western, but they turned it around quick. Indy went on to win their next seven games, taking a number five ranking into their away game at now number 10 Butler.
“Obviously you do not want to lose a game like that,” Esaias Carpenter, a sophomore defensive lineman, said. “A game that big at one of the best stadiums in JUCO football…is going to be exciting.”
Butler came in at 7-2, with a four-game winning streak. Head Coach Tim Schaffner’s message game week was business as usual.
“Coach told us to think of this as just another game,” Carpenter said. “We were fighting for a conference championship and so were they.”
Butler defeated Indy 31-27 in a close, back and forth game. While Butler did not win conference, they made it one game harder for the Pirates to win. Teams across the league had been looking forward to their chance at Indy. Sophomore defensive lineman Ruddy Alisca is a transfer from Dodge City this season. Alisca played for Dodge City in their 32-28 loss to Indy last year.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to play in a game that big,” Alisca said. “The cameras were out of our minds, [and] we were hyped.”
Fast-forward to today, every KJCCC school is ready for a second chance to prove themselves on the big stage again. Butler’s clash with the Pirates is set for 7 p.m. on October 6. Once again, that game will take place at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex in El Dorado.
“It is going to be big,” Alisca said. “Especially with a new team, I’m ready for another chance to play them.”
“Oh yeah, it’s going to be big.” Carpenter said in agreement with Alisca.
