COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following a dominant 38-0 performance at East Central last week, Northwest has moved up from No. 6 to No. 3 in the latest NJCAA football poll released Tuesday afternoon.

This week marks a return to the Top 5 for the Rangers (6-1), who previously were ranked at No. 5 before a 27-24 loss at Itawamba in September. They've won five in-a-row since then.

Iowa Western (7-1) continues to hold firm at No. 1 with eight first place votes, followed by Arizona Western (6-0) at No. 2. Blinn and East Mississippi round out the Top 5 at No. 4 and 5, respectively.

Along with Northwest and EMCC, a total of four MACJC programs are ranked within the Top 10. Hinds fell to No. 7 after last weekend's loss to then-No. 10 Jones County, who jumped up to No. 8 this week. 

Itawamba rounds out the MACJC representation, checking in at No. 20 overall with a 5-3 record.

Northwest will travel to Northeast (3-5, 2-3 MACJC North) in the regular season finale on Thursday in Booneville. Kickoff is at 6:30 at Tiger Stadium and can be viewed at nwccrangers.com/watch.

NJCAA Top 20 Poll (10/24/17)
1. Iowa Western
2. Arizona Western
3. Northwest Mississippi
4. Blinn (TX)
5. East Mississippi
6. Independence (KS)
7. Hinds
8. Jones County
9. Trinity Valley (TX)
10. Snow (UT)
11. Scottsdale (AZ)
12. Butler (KS)
13. Georgia Military
14. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
15. Lackawanna (PA)
16. Hutchinson (KS)
17. Louisburg (NC)
18. Navarro (TX)
19. Garden City (KS)
20. Itawamba