Former Dallas Cowboys’ defensive tackle Leon Lett will be in Raymond Thursday for his induction into the Hinds Community College Athletic Hall of Fame.

With the way the Eagles (3-1, 1-0 MACJC South Division) are playing of late, it could remind Lett of his glory days with Hinds from 1987, when he helped coach Gene Murphy’s team go 10-3 and reach the state finals and its first bowl game in 33 years.

This year’s Eagles have won two straight road games since a 20-17 loss to East Mississippi in Raymond on Sept. 8. One of the wins was a 36-0 rout of Copiah-Lincoln, a state finalist last year, in Wesson in the Eagles’ South Division opener.

The Eagles are aiming for a 2-0 start in the division when East Central (1-3, 0-1) visits for the Eagles’ homecoming game on Thursday, which will honor Lett and four others inducted into the Hinds Hall of Fame.

Murphy — whose recruitment of players like Lett, John Copeland, Zack Crockett and former Vicksburg High star Michael Myers — turned Hinds into a national power likes the progress his team has made.

“We continue to get better,” Murphy said. “We beat a very good team in Co-Lin, who won the South last year.”

A key for the Eagles this season has been the improved play of its offensive and defensive lines. The offensive unit is paced by two Warren County products at guard, John Gustavis and Steven Jordan. Gustavis, a 300-pound sophomore who played fullback at Warren Central, said the Eagles’ success begins up front.

“We know it’s all about the trenches,” Gustavis said. “It’s where games are won or lost. We understand every week we might be going up against guys going to the SEC like we faced against East Mississippi.”

East Central does not have the physical talent East Mississippi had. The Warriors lost to Pearl River last week in their South opener 31-13. Quarterback Mitch Manley has thrown for 318 yards but has also been picked off four times. That might mean trouble since the Eagles have one of the nation’s top pass defenders, safety Adonis Armstrong. Armstrong has five picks this season, including a key touchdown return in the Co-Lin win. Former Vicksburg High corner Malcolm Butler, does not have a pick, but has broken up seven passes in addition to 15 tackles

Former Vicksburg Post Defensive Player of the Year Mitchell Hoskins of Port Gibson leads the Eagles in tackles with 47. Ten of the freshman linebacker’s stops have been for loss and he had a 20-yard fumble return last week for a touchdown vs. Mississippi Delta.