PERKINSTON – Gulf Coast forced four first half turnovers and held Northwest to a season-low 17 points as they extended their home winning streak to 20 games with a 43-17 win over the Rangers in the opening round of the MACJC State Playoffs on Saturday at A.L. May Memorial Stadium. 

Northwest dropped its seventh consecutive postseason game, including a fourth in-a-row to Gulf Coast, with their last win coming back in 1999 against Hinds in the state championship game.

Gulf Coast improved to 9-1 on the year and advances to the state championship game for a sixth consecutive season. The Bulldogs will host Copiah-Lincoln on Saturday, Nov. 10 after the Wolves pulled a stunning 47-46 upset over East Mississippi.

Gulf Coast outgained Northwest 448-333 on the afternoon, and the Bulldogs imposed their will on the Rangers in the second half by controlling the clock and taking advantage of multiple penalties.

Gulf Coast led 24-17 at the half and came out in the third quarter with a 16-play, 75-yard drive over 6:54 and followed that up with an 11-play, 95-yard drive over 4:37. The back-to-back touchdown drives put the Bulldogs in complete control at 36-17 and drained the Rangers emotionally.

Northwest had to punt on three consecutive drives in the fourth quarter and could never get going again offensively. They crossed midfield only twice in the second half.

The Bulldogs put the finishing touches on the Rangers with 12:37 left when standout Dhaquille Williams took a Clint Hatten pass and raced 48 yards for a score – his 15th receiving touchdown of the year.

Damian Baker and the Ranger offense had their way with Gulf Coast in the run game, with the freshman going for a career-high 205 yards on 22 carries, but Northwest finished just 7-of-18 through the air with three interceptions.

Hatten finished 19-of-26 for 261 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Bulldogs, throwing TD passes of 71, 5 and 48 yards. Detrick Goff went for 27 yards and three scores on the ground.

Ty Northern had a career game with 13 tackles (seven solo), followed by Demarcus Pegues with 10 and Desmond LaVelle with nine. Aaron Thompson and Lawon Debardelaben each had INTs to give Northwest 25 total on the year.

Northwest's season most likely came to a close at 7-2, with both losses coming to Top 10 opponents. The Rangers will await a possible bowl selection which will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 13.