BOONEVILLE - In a matchup that featured two of the top defenses in the MACCC, it was No. 3 Northwest that came out on top in Thursday's 28-2 triumph at Northeast.
While the Rangers' offense was held under 300 total yards, the Northwest defense limited the Tigers to a season-low 175 yards of total offense. Northeast was also kept out of the end zone all night, marking the first game without a Tiger touchdown.
On the flip side, Northwest obtained two of its four touchdowns from its defense, scoring on a
Sam Brumfield fumble recovery and a pick-six by
Jay Adams. Offensively, the Rangers got a pair of four-yard rushing scores from quarterback
Ren Hefley and tailback
Jamarien Bracey.
With the win, Northwest concluded the regular season at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the MACCC North. Northeast needed a win to lock up the second and final seed from the North Division, but the loss instead ended the Tigers' season at 5-4 and 3-3 in division play.
Both offenses were stumped throughout the first quarter and for most of the second quarter, but fortunes shifted in the Rangers' direction with roughly 10 minutes left in the half. After the defense forced yet another Northeast punt, Northwest embarked on a 13-play, 84-yard possession that burned six minutes off the clock. The drive was capped off by a short four-yard keeper from Hefley and
Eli Hamlin followed with the PAT, breaking the ice and putting the Rangers up 7-0.
It didn't take long for Northwest to add to its lead, as Rontavious "Dude" Person delivered a sack on third down, causing Tigers' quarterback Carter Putt to cough the ball up to Brumfield, who returned it 15 yards into the end zone. The defensive score stretched the lead to 14-0 with 2:59 left before halftime.
Northwest would force one more Tiger punt before the half, giving the ball back to the Rangers with a minute left. Backed up against their own end zone, Hefley's incompletion on second down was ruled an illegal forward pass, thus gifting Northeast a safety and the ball back. Despite the questionable call, the Tigers were unable to muster up any other points before the half, as the Rangers took a 14-2 lead into the break.
Although the third quarter was quiet once again for both offenses, the scoring would pick up again quickly into the fourth quarter. On the first play of the quarter, Putt was intercepted by
Jay Adams, who ran it back 32 yards for another Northwest score. It was the second touchdown of the evening for the Rangers' defense, as the lead swelled to 21-2.
As Northeast continued to struggle on the offensive side of the ball, the Rangers put the game away midway through the fourth quarter with a seven-play, 49-yard drive that ended in a short touchdown run from Bracey. Hamlin followed with the ensuing PAT, his fourth of the night, solidifying the 28-2 final.
Despite the relatively-quiet evening for the offense, Northwest still outgained Northeast 277-175 in total yards, earning 207 on the ground.
Cayden Betts led the charge against his former team, totaling 100 yards on 16 carries. Through the air,
D.T. Sheffield totaled 51 yards on seven catches.
Brumfield and Person commanded the Northwest defense with 14 tackles apiece, including two tackles-for-loss, a sack and a 15-yard fumble recovery for Brumfield. To Person's credit, the sophomore defensive back also came away with a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a sack and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Elsewhere on defense, Pearson came away with two interceptions, along with one apiece from Adams and
B.J. Washington.
Fred Harris, Jr. also collected six tackles, followed by five from
Jaylen Powell.
Triston Newson and Kenny Byrd led the Tigers' defense with a combined 23 tackles, led by Newson's 12. Willie Latham, III provided the lone interception for Northeast.
Next up for the Rangers will be a MACCC Semifinal matchup against Jones College on Saturday, November 5. Previously undefeated and ranked fourth in the nation, the Bobcats were stunned by Mississippi Gulf Coast on Thursday evening, allowing the Bulldogs to claim the South Division crown by virtue of a tie. As a result, it will be Jones College making the trip to Senatobia next weekend as the No. 2 seed from the South.
