SENATOBIA – Northwest held the nation's top-ranked rushing offense to 136 yards on 48 carries and built a three touchdown lead after three quarters to cruise to a 27-12 Homecoming win over Holmes Thursday night.

Northwest improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the division and remained the lone unbeaten team in the MACJC. The Rangers won their ninth straight game overall and 10th in a row at home dating back to last season's national championship run. 

After holding Holmes on four consecutive drives to start the game, Drake McCarter's career-long 47-yard field goal and Clay Holgorsen's 10-yard touchdown pass to Marquisian Chapman gave Northwest a 10-0 lead after a quarter of play.

Holmes (4-1, 2-1) pulled within 10-6 on Dejerric Bryant's 55-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Montgomery, with Montgomery breaking away from two tackles and taking it the distance. Caleb Shelly's point after attempt was no good.

Northwest responded two drives later with a touchdown of its own, driving 73 yards on only four plays to take a 17-6 lead. Backup quarterback Cam Bowman was 3-for-3 on the drive for 69 of the 73 yards, connecting with Chapman for a 34-yard score, his second of the night. 

A.J. Smith picked off Bryant for his first career interception minutes later, snatching the ball out of a receiver's hands before he had full control and taking it down to the Holmes 29-yard line.

Four plays later, Holgorsen found Cleo Floyd for a 1-yard touchdown, the first of Floyd's career, to extend the Northwest lead to 24-6 at the half.

McCarter's 44-yard field goal on the Rangers' opening drive of the third quarter extended the lead to 27-6 after three quarters.

Holmes' second best drive of the night, a 7-play, 67-yard drive to start the fourth quarter, pulled the Bulldogs within 27-12. Treviante McDaniel scored from three yards out, with the ensuing two-point conversion no good. 

Northwest was able to waste away the clock for 12:12 in the quarter and ended the night in fine fashion with Quondarius Qualls' sack of Bryant for a 20-yard loss as time expired.

Holgorsen finished 8-for-18 for 84 yards and two scores, while Bowman was 5-for-8 for 87 yards and a touchdown. Chapman had six catches for 110 yards and two scores, moving into ninth in school history in receptions (71) and 15th in receiving yards (996).

Tywun Walters rushed for 147 yards on 28 carries for a second straight outing, while Quarderman Sloan added 11 carries for 66 yards.

Holmes entered with the nation's top rushing offense at 340.8 yards per game but managed just 136 on 48 carries for an average of 2.8 yards. Antavius Moody had a team-best six carries for 81 yards. Bryant was 8-for-21 for 201 yards and a 55-yard score to Montgomery.

Hal Northern had a team and career-high nine tackles, followed by Adonis Thomas with eight and three others with seven. Northwest added eight tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles and three sacks on the night.

Northwest will travel to Coahoma on Saturday, Oct. 8 for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on the Tigers' homecoming.