Bulldogs fall to Rangers in North Division opener
GOODMAN --- The Holmes Community College battled with the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers early, but the Rangers pulled away in the second half to win 51-20 in the North Division opener for both teams.
The Bulldogs fell to 0-3. Holmes will be on the road next week at East Mississippi.
The Rangers took advantage of a Bulldog miscue early in the game and returned an interception for a touchdown. The extra point was no good, and Northwest led 6-0 with 14:07 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs picked up three points with 7:17 left in the quarter when Luke Moffett booted a 35-yard field goal with 7:17 left in the first. Northwest led 6-3.
The Rangers scored minutes later on a rushing touchdown to go out to a 13-3 lead after the extra point was good with 5:44 left in the quarter.
Holmes answered the score with 2:06 left in the quarter when Kyren Batey scored from three yards out. Moffett's kick was good, and Northwest led 13-10.
Northwest was driving late in the first quarter and scored early in the second on rushing touchdown. The extra point was good, and Northwest led 20-10 with 14:53 left in the second quarter.
The Rangers added another score with 8:21 on a touchdown pass. The extra was good, and Northwest led 27-10.
The Bulldogs picked up a field goal with three seconds before halftime when Moffett drilled one from 29 yards out. Northwest led 27-13 at halftime.
Northwest picked up two touchdowns in the third on rushing touchdowns (12:32 and 6:03). Both extra points were good, and the Rangers led 41-13.
The Rangers got a field goal with 12:15 left in the game to go up 44-13.
The Bulldogs answered the score when Jordan Willis connected with Joshua Jones on a 45-yard touchdown pass. Moffett's extra point was good. Northwest led 44-20 with 8:56 left in the game.
Northwest's final score came with 2:38 left when they added a rushing touchdown. The extra point was good ending all scoring at 51-20.
The Bulldogs finished with 329 yards of offense including 280 on the ground and 49 in the air. Thomas McCauley led the Bulldogs with 104 yards on 18 carries. Batey finished with 66 yards on 10 carries. Willis was 2-of-6 for 49 yards and a touchdown. Jones had two catches for 45 yards and Kendarius Smith had one catch for four yards.
Justice Robinson and Donovan Veasley each had five tackles for the Bulldogs while Duke Arnold, Zak Morris, Celeycan Hill, LaDarrius Knighten, Braxton Bolden and Jonathan Wallace each added three. Jordan Milton had a fumble recovery for the Bulldogs.