CHARLOTTE – Although Northwest did not compete in a bowl game in this season, the Rangers still concluded the 2019 campaign ranked within the Top 10 of the final NJCAA poll, the organization released Monday afternoon.

Northwest (8-3) checks in at No. 6 overall, one slot down from its No. 5 ranking after finishing as the MACJC runner-ups. This is the 63rd consecutive poll featuring the Rangers dating back to 2015, with 61 weeks spent in the Top 10.

National champion Mississippi Gulf Coast (12-0) topped the rankings after a 24-13 win against Lackawanna (Pa.) in the NJCAA title game on Dec. 5. The runner-up Falcons remained at No. 2, followed by Hutchinson (Kan.), Iowa Western and Butler at third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Jones College moved up a spot to No. 10 while Graphic Edge Bowl runner-up Hinds dropped from eighth to 11th. East Mississippi rounds out MACJC representation at No. 14, while Itawamba, East Central, Copiah-Lincoln and Holmes all finished unranked but with votes received.

Fourth-year head coach Benjy Parker now owns a 35-11 career record at Northwest with a 19-5 MACJC North Division record.