SENATOBIA – The success of Northwest football continues to show at the next level, as four former Rangers will be making appearances in FBS bowl games this December for Texas, East Carolina, Louisiana-Lafayette and Middle Tennessee State.
Former First Team All-American left tackle Donald Hawkins and Texas (8-4) will be playing in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Monday, Dec. 30 against No. 10 Oregon (10-2). The Longhorns are averaging better than 423 yards per game, including 197.6 (36th in FBS) on the ground. Kickoff is set for 5:45 on ESPN.
Former All-American return specialist and wide receiver Lance Ray will be taking the field for East Carolina (9-3) against Ohio (7-5) on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Ray has 28 catches for 237 yards and three TDs and has 22 kick returns for 553 yards (25.1 avg). The two teams will meet in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
Offensive lineman Terry Johnson and UL-Lafayette (8-4) will face Tulane (7-5) in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The Ragin' Cajuns are 26th in the nation in rushing yards/game with 207.6 and average better than 424/game of total offense.
Wide receiver Marcus Henry and Middle Tennessee State (8-4) will face Navy (7-4) in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Monday, Dec. 30 at 10:45 a.m. on ESPN. Henry is second on the team in receiving with 36 catches for 528 yards and three TDs, including a 93-yard score against UAB.
Former Ranger and Independence native, Hugh Freeze, head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels (7-5), will face Georgia Tech (7-5) in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl on Monday, Dec. 30 at 2:15 on ESPN.
Former Ranger LB Desmond LaVelle and DL Jerome McClain helped South Alabama to bowl eligibility at 6-6 overall as well as former defensive end Brandon Timmons at Troy University (6-6). LaVelle had 27 tackles, 2 TFL, a sack and a breakup, while McClain had 34 tackles, 4.5 TFL, three sacks and a hurry. Timmons had eight tackles, TFL and a breakup in five games.
Offensive lineman and former NJCAA Second Team All-American Austin Douglas and Northwestern State finished 6-6 overall with a 40-27 win over SFA in the season finale.
A wide receiver turned defensive back, Camaren Harris and UT-Martin closed the year 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the OVC to mark a third winning season in the last four years. Harris finished with 51 tackles (43 solo), a TFL, four interceptions and 12 breakups.
Defensive back Aaron Thompson played in 11 games (two starts) for the 9-3 Faulkner Eagles, finishing the year with 10 tackles, four blocked kicks and an interception.
Linebacker Demarcus Pegues finished with 27 tackles and 3 TFL for Mississippi Valley State.
The success of Northwest football continues to show at the next level, with 48 former Rangers inking with four-year schools in the last six years alone (13 FBS signees).
