SENATOBIA - It is easy to look back on the 2024 version of Ranger football with fondness.  After faltering in a week 1 matchup against Pearl River, the squad rattled off ten wins in a row.  That streak included a 34 -7 victory over East Central in the MACCC championship game.  Northwest would go on to finish No. 4 in the final NJCAA poll after falling to national runner-up Iowa Western in the NJCAA Division I playoffs. Eight members of that team were recognized with All-Region 23 honors.  Four of those (D'mariun Perteet, LaParka Langston, Fredd Adams, and D.J. Burgess) were named to NJCAA All-American teams.

The group's success was evident in the off-season as 18 Rangers signed on to play at the next level.  To top all of that, the Northwest football team was the only program in the NJCAA with a GPA above 3.00.  The Rangers' 3.25 GPA gave the team back-to-back national crowns in the classroom and gave Coach Benjy Parker his third class to lead the nation in academic standings.

Moving forward into the 2025 season, Coach Parker finds himself answering the typical questions about how to maintain the program's standing while losing so many to the next level each year.  "When you have a program that has developed a standard on the field and in the classroom like we have here, replacing a talented group like our sophomores last year can seem tough sometimes.  It's our responsibility to recruit a new group of guys who are capable of growing and turning into good players and good students each year.  We have a staff here who do a great job of coaching them up on the field.  Our academic advisor, Tori Fugatt, and our instructors here at Northwest do such a great job of preparing our guys off the field for the next level."

Coaching them up is what Parker and his staff have been working on throughout summer workouts and fall camp.  Each position group has a core of returners who will be counted on early, but there is optimism about the incoming class as well.  There are several NCAA transfers in the group that are expected to make an impact during the season.
 
Everything starts up front on offense for the Rangers.  Offensive line coach Jim Jones has made a habit of sending players to the Division I level over the years and last year was no exception.  Jones will look to returners Drew Brewer (Purvis) and Reginhard Pierre-Nau (Jonesboro, Ga.) to anchor his unit early.  Connor Hillman (Flora), who played sparingly last year, is another returner who looks to fill a spot up front.  The line should be further bolstered by a trio of Division I transfers in Jordan Knox (Rock Hill, S. C./Northwestern), Tanner Welch (Flowood/Southern Miss.), and Amari Smith (Brookhaven/Mississippi State).

As experienced as the offensive line may be, the opposite may be said about the defensive line.  Defensive line coach Cordell Upshaw arrived in April and immediately began shoring up a position group that graduated three Division I transfers.  The cupboards were not left bare, however, as T.J. Spann (Clinton), Jaylen Thomas (Memphis, Tenn.), and Charles Woodard (Starkville) all return after gaining valuable experience in the second unit last year. Myles Miller (Madison) is a newcomer who has shown progress throughout camp. "This is a young group that is talented with a high ceiling! I am excited to continue to see progress from the new guys. There is a high standard set for the position group at Northwest by returners and former defensive lineman!," Upshaw stated.

The group behind that defensive line is a proven group of experienced players.  Defensive Coordinator Paige Anders' linebacking corps is anchored on the inside by returners Rase Jones (Soso), Chris Thomas (Southaven), and Johnathan Faulkner (Senatobia).  Jerry Wall III (Olive Branch) and Elliot Helps (Olive Branch) add leadership, athleticism, and experience on the outside.

Defensive backs coach Charles Jones has a mix of experience and talent at his disposal.  Marion Keyes (Laurel), Dre Riley (Charleston), and Jakwon Morris (Tupelo) will be looked to for leadership as the young group behind them matures.  Riley was recently recognized by JCGridiron as a member of the Preseason All-America Third Team. "The freshmen in this group are a talented bunch, but they're unproven at this level.  They'll learn from guys like Dre and Marion what it takes to make it here," Parker stated.

The receiver group is in a similar state as their defensive counterparts.  Receivers coach Scott Oakley will rely on a core group led by M.J. Johnson (Enterprise, Ala.), Keon Hutchins (Union), and Britten Traylor (Olive Branch).  When asked about the position group, Oakley expressed optimism.  "We have a good core coming back with some games under their belts that will give us some experience at the WR position. I'm looking forward to mixing this group of freshmen in there which gives us a good mix of size and speed. I am excited to watch this group play!"

Three players have taken the majority of reps at the tight end position during fall camp.  Only one of those, Jamael Johnson (Oxford), has experience in a Ranger uniform.  He gained some time at the position in 2024 but was also a valuable member of special teams units.  The other two, Reed Jesiolowski (Brandon/Southern Miss.) and Jourdan Butler (Pearl), have entered the mix in fall camp and should make this a balanced group for Offensive Coordinator Stan Hill.

Hill's running back unit is one that is deep and talented.  Ja Keyes (Mount Olive) returns after receiving significant playing time both in the backfield and on special teams last year.  The group is rounded out by two Division I transfers and a true freshman.  Jarvis Durr (Brandon/South Alabama) and Julius Pope (Pope/Arkansas) transferred in during the off-season and Macaleb Taylor (Grenada) fills out the group.  Parker expects to see all four contribute heavily during the season.  "It's a good group that has made a lot of progress during camp.  It's a good bunch of guys who should all contribute throughout the season.  They'll also help strengthen our special teams units and be valuable pieces there."

The specialists will also be a valuable group.  Long snapper Joey Colella (Brandon) and kicker/punter Hayden Wolfe (Clinton) both proved themselves under fire in 2024.  Wolfe handled all of the punting duties and split kicking duties last season.  This year he will handle both duties full-time.  "Those two should provide strong sophomore leadership for us," Oakley stated.

Hill's quarterback room is filled with a mix of experience and potential.  Transfers Neko Fann (Moultrie, Ga./Mercer) and Aidan Glover (Olive Branch/Missouri) bring the experience.  Fann was part of powerhouse high school program Colquitt County in Georgia and Glover has seen what it takes to win in the Southeastern Conference.  The two are joined by true freshman Wyatt Bond (Meridian) who threw for 70 touchdowns during his career at Lamar School.  All three should continue to battle for snaps throughout the remainder of camp.

When asked what else he wanted to highlight about fall camp, Parker was quick to point out the work of his support staff.  "Our trainers, managers, and filmers are all out here in the heat with us.  They're doing a great job taking care of us out here.  Coach (Randal) Pharr has us in good condition and Tori has been busy making sure schedules are straight and everybody is finding their classes.  I can't thank all of these people enough for the job they do for us." 

The schedule is typical of the year-to-year gauntlet in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.  "I believe we play in the toughest league in America.  Week to week you have to be prepared to fight the entire game.  If you take a few plays off in this league you'll get beat," said Parker.  Take a glance at the NJCAA DI Preseason Poll, released Monday afternoon, and one tends to agree.

Three teams in the MACCC are listed in the initial top 15, led by Northwest at No. 3, Copiah-Lincoln at No. 8, and Mississippi Gulf Coast at No. 10.  Though the Rangers will not face either of those two during the regular season, they will face four teams who received votes and sit just outside the top 15.  East Mississippi and emerging programs East Central, Holmes, and Itawamba all lurk just outside waiting for their opportunities to move up.

The Rangers open up August 28 on the road in Poplarville where they will face Pearl River.  The Wildcats gave the Rangers the lone blemish on the conference record last season when they left Senatobia with a 24 - 23 victory.  The first home game of the year at Bobby Franklin Field will be on September 5 when MACCC runner-up East Central comes to town looking to avenge their two losses to the Rangers in 2024. 

Northwest then travels to Scooba for the first North Division matchup against East Mississippi on September 11.  The Rangers will return home for a division matchup against Coahoma on September 18.  All of those contests are set for a 7:00 P.M. kickoff.  The final game of the first half of the season is a road trip to Booneville, where the Rangers and the Tigers are set for a 6:30 P.M. kickoff.

Following the conference-wide bye week on October 2, Northwest will host a two-game home stretch.  Southwest Mississippi travels to Senatobia on October 9 for the last non-division game of the regular season.  The Rangers will then host Mississippi Delta on October 16 during Homecoming Week Festivities.  Both of those games are scheduled for 7:00 P.M. kickoff times. 

The final two games of the season will be at Holmes on October 23, in an afternoon game scheduled for a 3:00 P.M. kick time, and at home against Itawamba on October 30 at 7:00 P.M.

Northwest enforces a clear bag policy at all public events on the Senatobia campus.  For tickets to home contests, click here.  Click here for full schedule details and updates during the season.  All games will be simulcast on RangerTV, Action News 5 Plus, and the Ellington Broadcasting family of stations.