SENATOBIA – Sophomore quarterback Domonique Harris threw for a career-high 275 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the Ranger offense was clicking on all cylinders Thursday night at Bobby Franklin Field in running away with a 49-7 win over 20th-ranked Itawamba.

Northwest stayed unbeaten on the season at 4-0 overall (3-0 north) and stretched its winning streak out to seven games dating back to last season. Itawamba fell to 3-2 overall and to 1-2 in the division.

The opening two drives for each team resulted in three-and-outs and it had the makings of what could be a defensive battle for a second-straight week.

But Northwest used its defense and special teams to score touchdowns on seven of its next nine drives into the third quarter and completely put the game out of reach.

Aaron Thompson and Demarcus Pegues picked off passes on back-to-back Itawamba drives that led to a pair of Ranger touchdowns, and Northwest led 14-0 after one.

Damian Baker's two-yard run on the Rangers' opening drive of the second stretched the lead to three scores before a Harris to Teshadi Talton 40-yard connection put Northwest on top 28-0 at the half. 

Talton's 77-yard return on the opening kickoff of the second half set Northwest up with great field position, needing just five plays over 1:45 before Baker plunged it in from 3-yards out.

Again interceptions on consecutive drives led to two more Ranger touchdowns, including a 33-yard scamper from Mont Dean and Devin Clark's 13-yard interception return for a score, which put Northwest on top 49-0 with 9:01 left in the third. 

Itawamba escaped the shutout with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Griff Loftis to Demarius Howard with 1:20 remaining in the fourth, capping its best drive of the night after going 82 yards on 12 plays over 6:22.

Northwest was in complete control all night on offense, piling up a season-high 526 yards (284 pass, 242 rush) while holding Itawamba to just 185 yards and allowing them to cross midfield just twice.

"This is probably the best we've played since I've been here in five years," head coach Ricky Woods said. "We clicked tonight and it was good. I was pleased with every one of them."

Harris closed the night 15-of-25 for 275 yards and two scores, hooking up with eight different targets, including Talton four times for a career-high 103 yards and both TD tosses. Baker went for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries as he eclipsed the century mark for a second time in four games.

Defensively, Northwest picked off four more passes to give them a nation-leading 13 through four games, and Dominique Price and Jayson Saffold led the way with six tackles apiece.

Northwest will travel to Mississippi Delta (0-5, 0-3) next Thursday for a 6:30 kick in Moorhead.

Fans can listen live on the radio dial at Q93.7 FM and, if available, a live audio feed of the game will be on the Rangers' UStream channel which is available on the football homepage.