STARKVILLE – Northwest Mississippi Community College has been rewarded for its good season.

The Rangers have achieved a 10-1 record and won the MACJC Championship over Gulf Coast Community College recently. They now find themselves in a position to play for the NJCAA National Championship against Rochester (Minn.) in Biloxi on Sunday. The Mississippi Bowl kicks off at 2 p.m.

Defensive line coach and Starkville native Travis Macon doesn't take the success that Northwest has had this season for granted. In Macon's mind, the effort the Rangers have played with over the course of the season has led to this moment.

"We've had some good breaks this year and our players have played hard," Macon said. "They have done a really good job doing what we tell them to do and it's always like finishing all of the way until the fourth quarter."

Even though the door was open for the Rangers due to two-time defending national champion East Mississippi Community College being suspended for the playoffs, Northwest still had to make the most of the situation. Macon said the Rangers still had to take care of business on the field.

"We still had to play our game and win the games we had to play," Macon said.

Macon and Northwest looks to get one more win and claim a national championship ring.

Former Starkville High School player A.J. Smith plays for the Rangers and Macon said representing their hometown well is always important. Macon believes Smith does that well.

"Starkville is always home," Macon said. "You always want to represent your hometown and always do something good for your hometown."(Smith) has done a really good job and has actually got a chance to start a couple of games," Macon said. "Everything we've asked him to do, he's really done well. He also plays on special teams. He got a little banged up toward the midway part of the year, but he's fought through it and doing good."