SENATOBIA – For the second straight season, Northwest will face off against division-rival East Mississippi in the MACJC Championship game. 

The Rangers took care of Hinds 27-13 in last week's semifinal matchup, while the Lions squeaked by Jones County 24-20 in the other semifinal.

Northwest (8-1) and EMCC (9-1) have been on a crash course to play for the MACJC title since Week 1 and it culminates on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at Bobby Franklin Field.

Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for other community college students. Northwest faculty, staff and students admitted free with school ID, while children six-and-under are also admitted free.

Northwest is playing in its third straight conference championship game and 14th overall, sporting a 9-3-1 all-time record. EMCC is 5-0 in MACJC championship games, defeating the Rangers 38-30 a year ago in Scooba. 

The stakes in this year's championship game are even higher than last year, with EMCC currently ranked No. 1 and in the position to host the NJCAA National Championship game in Perkinston with a win. Northwest, ranked fourth, is trying to play spoiler and make the jump into at least second to play in its second national title game in three seasons.

In the first matchup between the two teams back on Oct. 12 in Senatobia, then-No. 10 Northwest manhandled the then-No. 1 Lions 61-38 and rolled up nearly 600 yards of total offense.

Northwest boasts the MACJC's second-best and nation's 11th-ranked offense at 474.9 yards-per-game, an impressive balance of 249.7 passing and 225.2 rushing. EMCC has the nation's second-best offense at 502.5 yards-per-game.

Behind one of the nation's top offensive line, Kevin Perkins (661 yards), Quarderman Sloan (564 yards) and Monta Thomas (435 yards) have provided a three-headed rushing attack unmatched in the MACJC. The trio all average over five yards-per-carry and have combined for 25 rushing touchdowns.

Under center, redshirt freshman Jack Abraham recently became just the 15th player in school history to go over 2,000 yards passing in a single-season. He's completed 159-of-245 attempts for 2,216 yards and 16 touchdowns to only six interceptions. Cole Rotenberry leads the Rangers in receiving with 43 catches for 655 yards and a score, followed by JaVonta Payton (35-424-7), Jerrick Orr (29-406-5) and Pro Wells (15-224-1). 

LSU transfer quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. is a one-man wrecking crew for EMCC, accounting for 81 percent of the Lions' offense. He's thrown for 2,840 yards and 22 touchdowns against nine interceptions and rushed for 585 yards and six more scores. 

On the ground, the Lions average 207.2 yards rushing/game and 5.4 yards per carry, led by Tyrell Price's 896 yards and 20 touchdowns. In addition to Scott's 585 yards, Ja'Mori Mark has rushed for 353 and three touchdowns.

Northwest is holding opponents to an MACJC-best 12.4 points/game (third in NJCAA) against 20.7/game for EMCC. The Rangers have also posted four shutouts, their most since the 1992 national championship season. The biggest disparity in the two teams is total defense, with Northwest boasting the nation's seventh-best against EMCC's 39th-ranked defense. 

Sophomore linebacker Ty'Ree Evans leads the Lions with 85 tackles, followed by Emanuel Bridges with 67. Duke Upshaw has a team-high three interceptions and eight breakups.

Northwest has been very balanced defensively all season, rotating nearly two dozen players. Keith Brown Jr. has a team-high 70 tackles, followed by Turner Rotenberry (50), Joshua Norwood (48) and Brandon Pierre (47). Hal Northern has a team-best 12 tackles-for-loss and five sacks in the trenches. 

EMCC has the edge in the kicking game, with Taylor Crabtree connecting on 8-of-10 field goals and 57-of-58 PATs. Northwest's Drake McCarter is 3-for-13 in field goals and 38-of-44 in PATs. Both punters average around 38 yards per punt.    

MACJC CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 11
Time: 2 p.m. local time (3 EST)
Location: Senatobia, Mississippi (Ranger Stadium at Bobby Franklin Field)
Broadcast: www.nwccrangers.com/watch
Radio: WHKL 106.9 FM (Country Legends) available on Country 101 app
Live Stats: bit.ly/2fK32EM 
Rosters: Northwest | EMCC 
Schedules: Northwest | EMCC
Stats: Northwest | EMCC