JACKSON – After claiming its first conference football championship since 1999 with a 34-24 win over Mississippi Gulf Coast, a total of 11 Northwest Rangers (most since 2006) have been selected to the 2015 MACJC All-State Football Teams, the league office announced Monday.
Freshman receiver
Marquisian Chapman, freshman quarterback
Gardner Minshew, sophomore running back
Justin Crawford (MVP/back), sophomore K/P
Jim Speights, sophomore offensive tackle
Terrance Malone, sophomore offensive guard
Jermaine Jones, sophomore defensive tackle
Corey Brown (MVP/defensive line), sophomore linebacker
Malik Hawkins and sophomore safety
Steven Bradley earned spots on the first team.
Sophomore wide receiver
Jacob McCrary and redshirt freshman cornerback
Tito Windham were named second team all-conference.
In addition to all-conference recognition, Malone, Minshew, Crawford, Brown and Hawkins were all named to the NJCAA All-Region 23 Team and will now be nominated for All-American honors which will be announced in December. Crawford was named the Region 23 MVP, while head coach
Jack Wright was named both the MACJC North Division Coach of the Year and Region 23 Coach of the Year.
Chapman (Murrah) has hauled in a team-high 45 receptions for 649 yards and eight touchdowns and has added 275 yards rushing on 40 carries (6.9 avg). Minshew (Brandon) led the state in passing, throwing for 2,867 yards and 23 touchdowns against three interceptions. He's also added three rushing scores. Crawford (Hardaway, Ga.), has rushed for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 27 receptions for 348 yards and six touchdowns. He leads the nation in all-purpose yards and is second in the NJCAA in rushing.
Malone (South Panola) and Jones (Greenwood) have helped pave the way for the state's second-ranked and nation's 11th-best offense, averaging 462.7 yards-per-game. Brown (Columbus) has registered 23 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, nine hurries and a sack and had a 22-yard fumble return for a score in the MACJC Championship game. Hawkins (Horn Lake) has a team-high 87 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, three sacks and six hurries while Bradley (DeSoto Central) leads all defensive backs with 52 tackles, two picks and a breakup.
McCrary (Goulds, Fla.) has had a breakout sophomore campaign, hauling in 40 passes for a team-high 736 yards and two touchdowns. He had a career-best seven grabs for 144 yards and a score in a season-opening win at JCJC. Windham, who has seen limited targets all year, has registered 30 tackles, an interception and a 5-yard fumble recovery for a score. He leads the team with 10 passes defended.
Northwest (10-1) will find out its postseason destination on Tues., Nov. 17. All signs point to Mississippi Bowl VIII for the top-ranked Rangers where they will play for the NJCAA National Championship.