Northwest outlasts Gulf Coast 16-13 for second straight MACCC football title

SENATOBIA, Miss. – Powered by a suffocating defense and clutch kicking, the No. 4 Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers won their second consecutive MACCC Championship on Saturday, outlasting the No. 5 Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs 16-13 at Bobby Franklin Field.

Sophomore kicker Hayden Wolfe was the difference-maker, drilling a 47-yard field goal with just under six minutes remaining to break a 13-13 tie. The kick capped a perfect 3-for-3 day for Wolfe, who also connected from 51 and 28 yards.

“It feels great. I’m proud of our coaches and our players,” said Head Coach Benjy Parker, who has now won four MACCC championships in the last six seasons. “Our administration lets us do our job and supports us, and it’s a great night.”

The defensive battle was defined by key moments where the Rangers’ defense and special teams refused to break.

• Goal-line Stands: The Ranger defense set the tone early, stopping Gulf Coast on a fourth-and-one from the three-yard line in the first quarter.
• Clutch Kicking: Wolfe, who entered the game just 2-for-5 on kicks longer than 40 yards, went 2-for-2 from that range, including the 51-yarder to open the scoring and the 47-yard game-winner.
• Game-Changing Plays: The Rangers blocked a crucial Gulf Coast extra-point attempt in the fourth quarter that would have given the Bulldogs the lead, keeping the game tied at 13.

“Being able to step up and do my part for the team and help to win the game it just means a lot,” Wolfe said. “Those points were very important.”

Gulf Coast had a chance to tie the game with 2:27 remaining, but a 38-yard field goal attempt by Aiden Guinn missed wide left.

The Rangers’ defense, which secured two key interceptions by Marion Keyes and Elliot Helps, was instrumental in shutting down one of the nation’s top passing offenses.

“We really believe we are the best defense in the nation,” said defensive lineman Charles Woodard. “Our coach said we need to be like Freddy Krueger, and we played our game when it counted.”

Northwest’s offense totaled 313 yards, led by quarterback Neko Fann, who finished 18-for-30 for 191 yards. Fann connected with Quincy Phillips Jr. for the Rangers’ only touchdown in the second quarter to take a 10-7 lead.

After running back Julius Pope left the game with an injury, sophomores Ja Keyes (37 yards) and Jarvis Durr (65 yards) carried the rushing load. Durr sealed the game with a critical first-down reception on a third-and-eight screen pass, allowing the Rangers to run out the clock.

With the victory, Northwest (ranked fourth nationally) has likely secured a berth in the four-team NJCAA national playoffs.

“Jobs not finished,” Woodard said. “Our goal for this year was not a state championship, but a national championship… I think we have a lot of guys who are really hungry to go get that.”

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