COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For a fourth consecutive season, head football coach Ricky Woods and Northwest will open the season ranked in the NJCAA Top 20 Preseason Poll. | Top 20 Poll

Northwest most recently carried Top 25 rankings into the 2011 (9th), 2010 (23rd), 2009 (19th), 2007 (20th) and 2005 seasons (14th).

Northwest comes in at No. 11 to start the 2012 season and is one of four schools from the MACJC in the poll. Reigning national champions East Mississippi enter as the top-ranked team, followed by Mississippi Gulf Coast at No. 4 and Hinds at No. 8.

The Rangers have posted an impressive 31 winning seasons in the past 32 years and closed 2011 with three convincing victories to finish at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the north division.

Northwest was picked to finish runner-up in the north division this season by a vote of MACJC coaches.

MACJC North
1. East Mississippi
2. Northwest
3. Itawamba
4. Northeast
5. Holmes
6. Coahoma
7. Mississippi Delta

Northwest will kickoff the 2012 season on Thursday, Aug. 30 at Southwest Mississippi.

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