HUTCHINSON, KS – It was a tough night on offense for the #4 Northwest Mississippi Community College football team (10-2) as they fell to top ranked Hutchinson Community College (11-0) in their NJCAA Semifinal on Saturday night 27-0 at Gowans Stadium.
The opening drive of the game was carried by a pair of third down conversions by the Dragons as they took the ball from their own 25-yard line and on 11 plays were able to punch the ball in on a five-yard run by Kade Smith to take the early lead at 7-0 with 10:11 still to go in the game.
That was despite an early message from the defense which would hold Hutchinson to just over two yards per carry in the first quarter with most of those on scrambles by quarterback Christian Johnson early in drives.
Northwest struggled on their opportunities after their opening drive was able to get to midfield and was stalled by a reception that was overturned at midfield and resulted in a Ranger punt.
The Rangers were able to hold Hutchinson to a three-and-out and had to do it again after an illegal substitution, but they were still able to force the Dragons into a punt to end the next drive and a punt from Johnson would pin Northwest at the eight-yard line.
It seemed like Northwest was able to get a bit of momentum on the offensive side during their next possession thanks to a pass from Neko Fann to Julius Pope on third and twelve, but the Rangers opened the second quarter with three straight incompletions and the punt from Hayden Wolfe was tipped to set up Hutchinson inside of Ranger territory at the 46.
While that drive didn't go for much, the Rangers couldn't secure the punt from the Blue Dragons, and after it was recovered at the seven-yard line, Hutchinson would score three plays later and double their lead to 14-0 with 11:53 left in the game on a pass from Johnson to Bobby Shaw III.
Another slow start to the next drive for Northwest saw back to back sacks pin the Rangers at their own two before they were forced to punt again and another pressure on Wolfe forced it out at the NWCC 43-yard line which led to another quick drive from Hutchinson and after a pair of passes, Johnson took the ball himself on a read-option and picked up the third touchdown of the game for the top seed, pushing the lead to 21-0 with just over eight minutes to play.
The next three drives wouldn't result in much for either team as the defenses dug in their heels again, and with time winding down, it seemed like the Rangers would go into the half without giving up any more points, but after getting the ball at the 37-yard line, Hutch took the final 3:32 of the half to move it down to the Ranger 27 where Alejandro de la Poza hit a 44-yard attempt to go into the half up 24-0.
Out of the locker rooms, Northwest came with a new push on the defensive side of the ball, but the offense still had trouble finding their groove, although they were able to hit on a few chunk plays to provide some sparks, but couldn't never build on it as all three of their third quarter possessions ended in punts again.
On the other side, Hutchinson also found it tough to move the ball, only finding success on their opening drive of the third when they went 58 yards on 13 plays but couldn't convert on a 39-yard attempt from de la Poza and the game went to the fourth quarter still sitting at 24-0.
It turned out to be more of the same in the fourth from both sides. The Rangers were forced into going for it on fourth down near mid-field after a drive that started at their own seven showed promise but stalled just after crossing midfield, and on fourth and five, the Rangers saw and incomplete pass to M.J. Johnson broken up as pressure from the Blue Dragon defense continued to hound Fann who would be hurried three times and sacked three more for 28 yards in the game.
Hutchinson did have one more bit of action to add to the final score when they took their second to last drive and marched to the Northwest three-yard line before the defense was able to stiffen up and hold them out and one more field goal from 20 yards would cap off the scoring making it 27-0.
A three and out with Aiden Glover at the helm would close the game for Northwest and after a final punt by Wolfe, the Blue Dragons were able to run out the final 3:28 for the win to end the Rangers season.
The tale of the game could be seen in the time of possession where the Blue Dragons held the ball for 38:33 as Northwest never could sustain control of the ball on their possessions.
Northwest was held to just 38 yards rushing in the game as they couldn't find much room against the Blue Dragon front, and while the passing game saw Neko Fann throw for 180 yards, they weren't able to string plays together with the quarterbacks constantly under duress.
Eight Rangers pulled in a pass during the game, led by a 55-yard night from Johnson which included a long of 29 yards. Pope also hauled in four receptions for 29 yards and the 32-yard completion to Hutchins was the longest of the game for any Ranger receiver.
Britten Traylor, Jarvis Durr, and Reed Jesiolowski all had two receptions in the game and both Ja Keyes and Quincey Phillips Jr. had one each.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jerry Wall III had one of his best games in his career with ten total tackles and 3.5 of those going for loss. He also picked up one of the two sacks in the game for the Rangers defense. Charles Woodard had the other sack in the game as one of his six tackles and had two for a loss. Nate Walker, Elliot Helps, Myles Miller, and Rase Jones all also tallied a full tackle for a loss and Jaylen Thomas and T.J. Spann both had a half a tackle for a loss in the game.
Marion Keyes was also a ball hawk in the game, picking up nine tackles and Walker finished the game with eight.
Wolfe was busy punting the ball for the Rangers in the game, kicking it eight times and averaging 33 yards per kick with a long of 40 yards and one being pinned inside of the 20-yard line. His lone kickoff was a touchback.
Zay Hart had a 38-yard kick return on one of his two returns and Phillips Jr. had a pair that averaged out to 10 yards.
As a team, the Rangers had three fumbles, losing two of them and weren't able to force any turnovers in the game themselves.
The loss marks the first time in 109 games that the Rangers have been shutout, going back to October 16, 2014, when East Mississippi Community College achieved the feat in the regular season.
