CHARLOTTE – After major shakeups that included four of the Top 5 teams losing last week, Northwest has jumped from ninth to No. 4 in the most recent NJCAA rankings, the organization announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Northwest (1-0) defeated East Central on the road last Thursday evening and received 240 points for the 26-13 victory. Hutchinson (Kan.), the previous No. 5 team, now tops the rankings after previous No. 1 East Mississippi fell in a shocker to Hinds. Teams 2-4 also fell including Jones College, who suffered an 18-10 defeat at Coahoma.

At No. 4, the Rangers sit behind top-ranked Hutchinson (Kan.), Kilgore and Butler with East Mississippi lurking at No. 5 overall.

Other MACJC programs ranked include Mississippi Gulf Coast, who made a jump from 12th to sixth, Copiah-Lincoln (13), Hinds (14) and Jones College (17). Coahoma, Pearl River and Northeast also received votes.

This marks the 55th consecutive poll featuring Northwest dating back to 2015, with 52 of those weeks spent ranked within the Top 10.

No. 4 Northwest will christen its new turf surface at Bobby Franklin Field on Thursday night, as the Rangers host Southwest Mississippi. The Bears come in 0-1 and trail the Rangers 22-13-1 in the all-time series.

Kickoff for Thursday's home opener is 7 p.m. and can be seen in HD at nwccrangers.com/watch.