Box Score SENATOBIA – Northwest hung with the nation's 2nd-ranked team for a quarter and a half, but East Mississippi was just too much for the Rangers in a 79-7 loss Thursday night at Bobby Franklin Field.

East Mississippi clinched a playoff berth with the win and improved to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the north, while Northwest dropped to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in league play. 

Coming into the game, the last five meetings had been decided by eight points or less. But the Lions scored 51 points in the third quarter alone and dealt the Rangers their worst defeat in school history. 

East Mississippi outgained Northwest 640-147 on the night and held the Rangers to minus-29 yards in the second half. The Lions rushed for 248 yards behind a 199-yard effort from Lakenderic Thomas and the nation's top passer, Dontreal Pruitt, went 24-for-39 for 334 yards with seven touchdowns. 

EMCC went up 7-0 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Pruitt to CJ Bates with 7:22 remaining in the first.

Northwest would tie it early in the second quarter at 7-7 thanks to a Joshua Barry interception that set the Rangers up at their own 45-yard line. Miller hit three different receivers on the 55-yard drive and rushed it in from a yard out for the tying score. 

The Lions would respond two drives later, going 65 yards on five plays. Pruitt went 3-for-3 on the drive with a 5-yard touchdown to Bates and also got a big 25-yard carry from Thomas that helped setup the score.

But Northwest did not back down, driving the ball down to the Lions' 2-yard line before a crucial fumble by Damian Baker gave the ball back to EMCC. The Lions then went 95 yards on four plays in just 1:26 for a score and added a 54-yard touchdown pass from Pruitt to Antoinne Adkins for a 28-7 lead at the half.

The third quarter was one to forget for Northwest, as EMCC took advantage of two interceptions, a fumble, blocked punt and a safety and scored an unprecedented 51 points to put the game well out of reach.

The fourth quarter was a 10-minute running clock and the game finally ended after nearly 3 hours. 

Northwest will close out the 2013 season on Saturday, Oct. 26 at No. 6 Jones County (7-1).