JACKSON – After closing the season 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the north division, 15 Northwest Rangers were rewarded for their individual play during the year when all-state and all-region football teams were announced by the league office late Saturday evening.
Earning MACJC First Team All-State honors on offense were sophomoresAustin Douglas (OL) and Christian Chalmers (OL). Second team offense honors went to sophomoresDomonique Harris (QB), Martize Wallace (OL), Deshondrick Hines (OL) and freshman transferDarreall Joyner (WR). Freshmen Damian Baker (RB) and D'Montrise Swinney (WR) were named honorable mentions.
Douglas, who also earned OL MVP honors, and Chalmers helped anchor an offensive line that paved the way for 425.9 yards-per-game, including 190 ypg on the ground with 23 touchdowns. Northwest rushed for 200 or more in four games, with a season-high 284 yards and four touchdowns against Copiah-Lincoln in the season-opener.
Harris finished fourth in the state in passing yards after completing 57 percent of his attempts (139-of-244) for 2,109 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Baker, who rushed for a career-high 205 yards against No. 9 Gulf Coast in the state playoffs, closed the year with 983 yards rushing on 171 carries (5.7 avg) and scored nine touchdowns.
Dee Joyner emerged on the scene the final three weeks of the season with huge games and closed the season with 33 receptions for 545 yards and two touchdowns. Swinney was second on the team with 24 receptions for 390 yards and a pair of TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Northwest had seven all-state selections in all. First team accolades went to sophomores Desmond LaVelle (LB), Jerome McClain (DL), Aaron Thompson (DB) and Chase Carpenter (K) while Randolph Williams (DL) was named second team all-state and Jayson Saffold (DL) and Demarcus Pegues (LB) were tabbed honorable mentions.
LaVelle (49 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks) and McClain (46 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 8 QBH) finished fifth and sixth on the team in total tackles, and were part of a Ranger defensive unit that surrendered just 129.7 ypg on the ground (3rd best in the state).
Thompson picked off a team-high six of the Rangers' 25 interceptions (2nd nationally) and also broke up seven more to lead all players. His 79-yard interception return for a score against then-ranked No. 3 East Mississippi was the ninth-longest in school history.
Carpenter connected on 8-of-13 field goal attempts and 37-of-41 PATs for a team-high 61 points. He also averaged 40.7 yards-per-punt with 11 inside-the-20 and a long of 60 and will close his career second all-time in average (40.44).
Taking top honors from the league were NJCAA All-Region 23 selections Austin Douglas, Christian Chalmers and Desmond LaVelle, who are each now eligible for All-American honors which will be announced in December.
For more information about Northwest athletics visit the website at www.nwccrangers.com.
**Please note if Northwest receives a bowl bid on Nov. 13, postseason games will count in season totals.
