SCOOBA – Thanks to a season-best total offensive output of 572 yards, No. 7 Northwest earned a 56-36 defeat of third-ranked East Mississippi on Thursday night, snapping EMCC's seven-year home winning streak.

Northwest improved to 5-1 on the season and 2-1 in the MACJC North Division, as EMCC fell to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the division. The win allowed Northwest to move its all-time series record against the Lions to 42-25-1 while handing East Mississippi its first home loss since November 2012 and the first regular season home loss since the opening of Sullivan-Windham Field in 2011.

East Mississippi got off to a running start early, as Keon Moore scored on a short touchdown carry less than three minutes into the game. The Lions would then get a short field off a Jack Walker interception but Josh Smith would miss a 40-yard field goal, keeping the Rangers within striking distance.

Northwest would finally get going late in the first quarter as the Rangers embarked on a 7-play, 39-yard drive, capped off by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Walker to Cameron Wynn with 2:23 to go in the opening quarter.

Less than 30 seconds into the second quarter, the Lions would strike again on a 5-yard carry from Moore. Smith would miss the ensuing PAT however, denying EMCC the extra point with a 13-7 lead.

It would only take two plays for Northwest to issue a response, as Walker hit Wynn for a 70-yard touchdown reception down the sideline to give the Rangers a 14-13 advantage.

After the Lions pulled back ahead 16-14 with a 22-yard Smith field goal, the Ranger offense really began to find their rhythm. Northwest capped off a 5-play, 61-yard drive with a short touchdown carry from Chris Calvert. Cole Catalano followed up with one of his eight PATs, bringing the Rangers ahead 21-16 with 8:43 remaining in the first half.

Northwest would shut down the next East Mississippi drive as Jayce Rogers picked off Connor Neville at midfield, returning it 22 yards to Lions' 29-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Urriah Shephard took off 29 yards for a Ranger touchdown, pushing the Northwest advantage to 28-16.

Defense once again played a factor on the next EMCC possession, as Quentin Wilfawn recovered a Neville fumble to allow Northwest to take over at its own 39-yard line. Two plays later, Calvert took off 57 yards for another Northwest touchdown with 4:04 left in the second quarter.

Northwest came up big on the defensive side of the ball one final time in the first half, as the Lions were denied on 4th and 10 to give the Rangers the ball at their own 29. Walker immediately put Northwest on the board with a 66-yard touchdown pass to Wynn - his third of the night - to give Northwest its fourth consecutive touchdown and a 42-16 lead.

EMCC gained a little momentum just before halftime as Jamari Jones hit Jason Brownlee for a 24-yard scoring pass with less than a minute to go, cutting the Northwest lead to 42-22. The Lions would continue that momentum throughout the third quarter, as East Mississippi carved its way into the lead with a pair of touchdowns from Brownlee (24 yards) and Zias Perryman (3-yard rush), closing the gap to 42-36.

Jaquerrious Williams finally broke the scoring silence for Northwest with 9:37 left in the fourth quarter, as the freshman tailback wrapped up a 6-play, 79-yard drive with a 35-yard score, moving the Rangers back ahead by two scores, 49-36.

Northwest came up clutch again on other side of the ball, as the Ranger defense stopped the Lions at midfield on fourth down to give the offense good field position. Nine plays later, Williams scored again on a short, 1-yard carry to make it a 56-36 lead for the Rangers with less than three minutes remaining.

East Mississippi made one final push downfield but the Lions were stopped on a game-ending sack from Justin Jackson and Tyren Irby at the Rangers' 37-yard line, cementing the hard-fought road victory.

Following his career-best performance last week, Walker again guided the Rangers' offense with another solid effort, completing 15 of his 26 pass attempts for 283 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. All three of his touchdown receptions were targets to Wynn, who finished with three catches and 144 yards.

Calvert lit up the Rangers' offense on the ground with 15 carries for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Desmyn Baker led the way with nine total tackles and a sack, along with Dee Rule's eight tackles and Jackson's four tackles with 2.5 sacks for 13 yards.

Northwest returns home next Thursday, Oct. 10, hosting Coahoma for Homecoming at Bobby Franklin Field. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.