SUMMIT – A 24-point second quarter, highlighted by
Robert Wilcke's 86-yard touchdown pass to
Demarcus Jones, and lights out defense helped the Rangers run away from Southwest Mississippi, 51-6, Thursday night at John I. Hurst Stadium.
It's the Rangers' most lopsided victory since a 66-13 win over Rochester in the 2015 NJCAA National Championship Game.
Northwest improved to 2-0 on the young season while Southwest fell to 1-1. The Rangers now lead the all-time series 22-13-1.
After forcing the Bears to punt on their opening possession, Northwest traveled 61 yards on eight plays on its first possession and capitalized with
Chris Calvert's 9-yard touchdown run.
A game-changing, 10-play, 95-yard drive to start the second helped the Rangers explode for 24 points in the quarter to take a commanding 31-6 lead at the break.
Calvert scored for a second time to make it 14-0 and he was followed by consecutive touchdown drives on a 2-yard run from
Jacob Free and 86-yard hookup from Wilcke to Jones.
The Bears' lone points of the half, and game, came on a fluke play, with
Brandin Echols deflecting Da'Bryan Magee's pass into the hands of Anthony Jones for a 37-yard touchdown.
Back-to-back Ranger touchdowns midway through the third quarter, on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Free to
Keshunn Abram and
Walt Hopson 75-yard interception return, made it 44-6 and triggered a running clock the rest of the game.
Wilcke put the finishing touches on the Bears with 3:49 to play, scoring from six yards out on a quarterback keeper.
Free and Wilcke combined to go 15-of-24 for 283 yards and two touchdowns through the air and two on the ground. Jones had five catches for 145 yards and a score, both career-highs, while Abram added three grabs for 90 yards and a score.
Calvert had two rushing scores on the ground from nine and 17 yards.
Northwest's defense was fantastic all night, finishing with 10 tackles-for-loss, four sacks, two interceptions and four breakups while holding SMCC to 174 total yards (35 rushes for 24 yards).
Taures Payne had a big night, recording nine tackles, four for loss, two forced fumbles, two sacks and three hurries.
Northwest will continue a three-game road trip next Thursday, Sept. 13, traveling to Mississippi Delta (0-2) for a 7 p.m. kick.
