Box Score DECATUR – Trailing 2-1 at the half in a must-win or tie match, Northwest scored three unanswered goals in the second half to win 4-2 at East Central and clinch a spot in the MACJC State Tournament.

Northwest improved to 7-3-2 overall (4-3-1 north) and will be making its first playoff appearance since 2009.

Things started off all wrong for Northwest in the game's opening minute as Clint McGraw gave the hosts a 1-0 lead just 39 seconds in.

Anthony Fernandez tied the match at 1-1 in the 32nd minute off a Gnande Zleh assist, but Kennon Craft would score the go-ahead goal for the Warriors with 45 seconds left in the half to make it 2-1 ECCC.

As halftime ended, a scuffle between a couple players broke out and double red cards were issued to Northwest's Muhamed Bojang and ECCC's Tyravian Miller, making it 10-v-10 the final 45 minutes.

Juan Martinez, off a Fernandez assist, netted a beautiful back-heel goal to knot the match at 2-2 in the 53rd minute and sparked three straight Ranger goals.

Zleh's game-winning goal came in the 62nd minute, his third of the year, and he added another in the 81st minute from Fletcher Hall and Fernandez to put the match away. 

Northwest has locked in the North's No. 2 seed in the state tournament and the Rangers will host the South's No. 3 seed in Jones County on Tuesday, Oct. 29 in Senatobia. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

Live stats will be available at www.sidearmstats.com/northwestms/msoc.