Northwest Mississippi Community College has become a mainstay in the state title game, and Saturday’s matchup against Hinds found the Rangers earning a third straight championship.
Benjy Parker’s team downed an emerging Hinds group 33-29 in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference championship game at Ranger Field in Senatobia. Northwest’s three-peat is the first since East Mississippi Community College accomplished the feat under Buddy Stephens from 2016-18.
The Rangers boasted a 26-7 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Chris Jones’ Eagles showed no sign of waving the white flag. Hinds found new life with a four-play drive that ended in an 18-yard touchdown pass. Feeling the momentum, the Eagles forced a Ranger three-and-out and scored quickly to cut the deficit to 26-21.
Matters went from bad to worse for Northwest when Ranger quarterback Noah Gillon threw an interception on a drive that had moved the home team into Eagle territory. Hinds moved methodically downfield, eating as much clock as possible, and scored a 12-yard touchdown while also converting on the 2-point try to take a 29-26 lead with a little more than two minutes on the clock.
A daunting final frame found Northwest with its back to the wall, and the adversity ended up being refining for the Rangers. Northwest began its two-minute drill with a 24-yard pass to TyAnthony Elmore, which moved the Rangers into Hinds’ side of the field. An ensuing pass interference called on Hinds worked Northwest deeper into its opponent’s territory. With over a minute to work with, Gillon found Clydarrien Peters in the end zone on a 24-yard pass to reclaim the lead.
Trailing 33-29, Hinds did not go down without a fight. Eagle quarterback Jaylon Ruffin helped maneuver his team into Northwest’s side of the field. However, the efforts, as valiant as they were, fell short when the Rangers sacked Ruffin on fourth-and-2 at the Northwest 22 to end the game.
The victory sets up the Rangers with the opportunity to play in the NJCAA Division I National Playoffs, with the top four teams in the country earning a spot in the postseason picture.
Semifinal action will begin on Nov. 20 and Nov. 22. The field, as it stands, will include top-ranked Hutchinson Community College, No. 2 Iowa Western Community College, No. 3 Trinity Valley Community College, and No. 4 Northwest.