SENATOBIA – Northwest finished on the wrong end of a playoff-like atmosphere and an extremely intense match to Holmes, dropping the MACJC North Division opener 6-5 to the Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon.

The teams were whistled for a combined 36 fouls and six cards, including one Holmes ejection.

Holmes (1-2, 1-1) got on the board first less than four minutes into the match, as Scott Hickman headed a Rolando Sanchez cross into the box for the first Bulldog goal.

Less than two minutes later, the Rangers responded as Peyton McKnatt played a Carson Tackett punt into the net for his fifth goal of the season and a 1-1 tie.

Holmes acquired some separation later in the first half with a pair of Sanchez goals and an additional score from Hickman, stretching the lead to 4-1 in the 31st minute.

In the waning moments of the first half, the Rangers made things interesting with a pair of goals from McKnatt and Cayman Blount, both assisted by Quaid Phillips, to cut the lead down to 4-3 at halftime.

Holmes would retake the momentum in the 60th minute, however, as Sanchez completed a hat-trick from inside the box to give the Bulldogs a two-goal lead at 5-3.

Following one final goal from the Bulldogs in the 67th minute, the Rangers tried to catch up with a pair of goals from McKnatt (to finish a hat-trick) and Eladio Martinez, but Holmes held on for the 6-5 victory.

Northwest was outshot 36-17 for the match, 25-10 on goal.

Carson Tackett closed out the match with a career-high 19 saves, while Sean Jeanfreau finished with five saves.

Northwest (1-2-1, 0-1 north) will resume north division action on Friday, Sept. 8 at East Central at 3 p.m.