When it comes to his team’s four-game losing streak, Itawamba Community College head coach Jeff Terrill admits that he has struggled to find answers.

After starting the season with a convincing win over then-No. 14 Jones County, Terrill’s Indians have slipped into a seemingly-unescapable pattern of injuries, illness and mistakes that has resulted in four straight losses, including last week’s disappointing 13-7 home loss to Mississippi Delta.

“When things get bad like they are right now, sometimes it seems like there are no answers,” Terrill said. “It’s just been one of those years for us.”

While ICC has played poorly at times, circumstances have also played a huge role. In just the last four games, ICC has dealt with:

n The loss of seven starters due to illness or injury before a home loss to Northwest.

n Lingering injury issues to key players, including freshman quarterback Bret Jefcoat and preseason All-American RT Lamar Holmes.

n A bizarre rash of turnovers and sloppy play, including two straight five-turnover performances that led directly to a pair of losses against rivals Northeast and Northwest.

As far as snapping that losing streak and finishing the season on a positive note, Terrill has plenty of answers for that.

“We just have to keep working, keep trying to get better,” Terrill said of his Indians, who are 1-4 with four games left. “We can’t change what has already happened, but we can dictate how the rest of the season goes.”

The rest of the season starts tonight for ICC. The Indians will travel to Holmes tonight for a 7 p.m. kickoff, which will mark the first of three road games in the final four weeks for ICC.

Holmes (1-4, 1-2 in MACJC North Division) has struggled as well, with its only win being a 30-14 upset of Coahoma. For Terrill, tonight’s tussle features a pair of teams clamoring for a win.

“When you’ve got two teams that are both desperate to get a win like we are, you’ve got the chance to have a very competitive game,” Terrill said. “They play pretty well at home and they are always a very well-coached team. For us, we just have to make sure we’re taking care of the football.”

Currently at the bottom of the north division standings, ICC has a chance to finish the season on a positive note with three games remaining against north opponents, including a homecoming date with division-leading EMCC on Oct. 17.

For the Indians, tonight’s road battle against Holmes could be a key tipping point if they are to finish the season on a positive note.

“We just have to get the feeling of winning a game under our belt again,” Terrill said. “We’ve got the ability to do it, we’ve proven that. Now we just have to go get us one.”

Finishing strong

Like ICC, Northeast’s Tigers will finish the regular season playing three out of four games on the road.

For the Tigers, though, the chance remains to make a little noise in the postseason. After three division games, Northeast sits at 2-1, tied with Miss. Delta behind North-leading EMCC. Over the season’s final month, the Tiger will have opportunities against both EMCC and Northwest, which is currently 1-1 in division play.

With a postseason berth still a possibility, head coach Ricky Smither and his team will look to continue building momentum Saturday with a trip to faceSouth Division foe East Central, which has limped to a 1-4 overall mark.

Northeast is currently third in the state in total defense, limiting opponents to just 285 yards per game. In both of the Tigers’ wins this season, the defense has been key, as LB LaDarrius Madden has returned an interception for a TD in wins over Holmes and ICC.

Kickoff at East Central is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.