Box Score BOONEVILLE – Northwest jumped out to a comfortable 19-0 lead early in the third quarter at Northeast and had total control of the game until a muffed punt completely shifted momentum to the host Tigers and they responded with 25 unanswered to steal a 25-19 overtime win.

Northeast won its first game of the year in improving to 1-2 and 0-1 in the north while Northwest lost its ninth-straight game and dropped to 0-3 and 0-1. The Tigers have now won three of the last four meetings. 

It was a tale of two halves, as Northwest outgained Northeast 199-70 and allowed the Tigers to cross midfield just once in a dominant first half. The Rangers couldn't be completely satisfied, however, leaving at least 10 more points on the field and leading just 12-0 at the break.

Northwest took advantage of a short field on its opening possession of the second half and quicky added another touchdown on the board to take a 19-0 lead with 11:55 left in the third. Quandez Lee caught his second TD pass of the season from Karsten Miller, a 5-yard score to cap a 6-play, 38-yard drive over 3:17.

Northeast's ensuing possession, however, changed everything. An illegal block penalty backed the Tigers up at their own 9-yard line and they were forced to punt six plays later. Jacob Meeks booted the ball down to Northwest's 39-yard line where Marcel Newson muffed the punt to give the Tigers life. The very next play, Brett Thompson hit Corbin White for a touchdown. 

A quick Northwest 3-and-out gave the ball back to Northeast after just 2:03 and the Tigers proceeded to drive 59 yards on six plays over 2:17 to pull within 19-13 with 4:38 remaining in the third.

Northwest's offense became stagnant and wasn't able to move the ball as effectively as they had all game, going 3-and-out on three of its next four possessions.

Northeast knotted the game at 19-19 with 8:50 left in regulation when Thompson hit LaVontis Smith for a 26-yard score after a Ranger defender slipped in the end zone trying to defend the pass. The extra point attempt was then blocked by Brandon Mack to deny Northeast its first lead. 

Driving in for the possible game-winning score with under a minute remaining, Northwest converted a 4th-and-1 with 32 seconds left but Terreous Johnson fumbled at the Northeast 27-yard line to send the game into overtime.

Northwest had possession first, going 3-and-out and missing a 40-yard field goal for the lead, Jim Speights' third missed attempt of the game.  

That's all the good fortune the Tigers needed, using yet another Ranger miscue, to eventually find the winning score. After a personal foul penalty on the quarterback on 2nd-and-11, Thompson hit Smith again from 13-yards to give Northeast a 25-19 come-from-behind victory.

After dominating for nearly two and a half quarters, Northwest was held to 93 yards in the second half while Northeast racked up 244 and outscored the Rangers 25-0. 

Miller finished 16-of-35 for 184 yards and a score, hitting Kentrell Spencer a game-high seven times for 79 yards. Johnson had a career and game-high 98 yards on the ground on 24 carries. Roger Thomas scored his first collegiate touchdown in the second on a 2-yard run.

Defensively, Malik Hawkins had 10 tackles, Terry Caldwell had nine and Kendall Carr and Devante Davis had seven apiece. Carr also added 3.0 TFL, a sack and quarterback hurry.

Northwest returns home on Saturday, Sept. 20 for a 2 p.m. Homecoming kickoff against Itawamba. 

Live video at NJCAATV.com/nwccrangers and live stats at sidearmstats.com/northwestms/football.