Northwest Mississippi Community College is once again atop the state’s JUCO football scene as the Rangers outlasted Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, 16-13, in Saturday’s MACCC Championship game in Senatobia.
The win made for Northwest’s (10-1) second championship in as many seasons while the loss for MGCCC (9-2) secured a second-place finish in one of the nation’s toughest conferences. Going into the contest, both teams were top five nationally: Northwest at No. 4 and MGCCC at No. 5.
The defenses looked all of top-five worthy, too, combining for three turnovers and holding each other’s offenses to their lowest scoring outings of the season. Northwest’s secondary found a slight advantage, picking off MGCCC quarterback Landon Varnes twice.
While the scoring wasn’t as prevalent as usual, Northwest got on the board first with a 51-yard field goal by Hayden Wolfe. MGCCC countered with a 7-yard touchdown connection between Varnes and Owen Colpaert to take a 7-3 lead into the second quarter.
Northwest quarterback Quincy Phillips Jr. found Neko Fann from eight yards out for the only score of the second quarter, giving the Rangers a 10-7 lead going into halftime.
Another Wolfe field goal, this time a chip shot from 28 yards away, was the only scoreboard action in the third quarter. Northwest led 13-7 going into the fourth quarter, although the Bulldogs were driving at the time of the field flip. MGCCC got into the end zone half a minute into the fourth quarter via a short run by Tyler Henderson. A failed PAT knotted the score at 13-13.
Wolfe continued to be the man of the afternoon, booting a ball through the uprights from 47 yards out with 6:55 left to play. As both defenses stood strong, the field goal would end up being a go-ahead one and lift Northwest to the state title.
“It means so much for me being able to contribute to this team and take us to the next game going forward. It means a lot,” Wolfe said. “As a sophomore, it means so much more and I am so glad to help, and I give God all the glory. I couldn’t have done it without him.”
The win was Northwest head coach Benjy Parker’s fourth MACCC championship in six seasons. After the game, he gave credit to everyone involved in the program.
“It feels great. I’m proud of our coaches and our players,” Northwest head coach Benjy Parker said after the game, which was his fourth MACCC championship in six seasons. “Our administration lets us do our job and supports us. And it’s a great night.”
Northwest will now be the lone Mississippi team competing for an NJCAA Division I title. The semifinal games are scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 6 with the top two seeds hosting the opening rounds. The ensuing national championship will be played in Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 16. The full bracket has yet to be announced.