RIDGELAND – An 'own goal' just 1:27 into regulation set the tone for a tough day at M&F Bank Stadium for Northwest, as the homestanding Holmes Bulldogs picked up a 4-1 win to earn a season split and knock the Rangers out of the top spot in the north division standings. 

Holmes improved to 7-2-1 overall (2-2-1 north) while Northwest dropped to 5-5-1 overall (2-2-1 north).

The Bulldogs got the early lead on the Northwest miscue, with Peyton Smith going to clear the ball on a header and it finding the back of the Ranger net over John Denton for the 'own goal.'

It was all Holmes after that, as the Bulldogs were constantly on the attack all afternoon long in outshooting the Rangers 17-9 (11-5 shots-on-goal) and finding the back of the net four times.

Holmes took a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute on Andrew Pegues' goal off a Murry Noble assist before Fakhry Khulfan got Northwest on the board in the 20th minute with his team-leading 12th goal of the year to make it a one goal deficit at the break.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 3-1 in the 59th minute when Noble fired a shot from almost 35-yards out from the right hash that landed in the upper left corner for a beautiful goal. Hunter Randle would cap the scoring in the 83rd minute after checking in just minutes earlier, using another assist from Noble who was busy all afternoon with a goal and two assists.

Denton would finish with seven saves on the day against four from Charles Hancock III for Holmes.

Northwest will return home Friday after a four-match road swing, hosting Itawamba at 4 p.m.

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