Bulldogs lose heartbreaker to Rangers, 37-35
SENATOBIA --- After falling behind 28-7 at halftime, the Holmes Community College Bulldogs outscored the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers, 28-9, in the second half but the Rangers only touchdown came as the horn expired to pull out the 37-35 North Division win.
Holmes, now 7-1 on the season, will face East Mississippi at 3 p.m. on Thursday for Homecoming in Goodman. The Bulldogs will need a win versus the Lions to make a return to the postseason since 2002.
Holmes wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the game when K.J. Miller took the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Dan Lindsay's extra point put Holmes up 7-0 with 14:46 left in the first.
The Rangers then scored on a rushing touchdown with 11:03 and tied the game at seven in the first quarter.
Northwest then took advantage of a Bulldog miscue when they returned an interception back for a touchdown. The Rangers led 14-7 with 9:28 left in the first.
The Rangers scored a rushing touchdown with 3:27 to play in the first quarter and one with 2:58 to play in the second quarter to lead 28-7 at halftime.
Holmes got on the scoreboard with 5:36 left in the third when John Ford found Malcolm Boykin on a 47-yard touchdown pass. Lindsay's kick was good, and Northwest led 28-14.
The Bulldogs added another score in the third when Chase Richardson scored from four yards out. Lindsay's kick made it 28-21 Northwest with 1:54 left in the third.
The Rangers added a field goal with 9:59 left in the fourth to give them a 10-point lead, 31-21.
Just over a minute later, the Bulldogs added another score as Ford found B.J. Johnson from 14 yards out. Lindsay's kick was good, and the lead was cut to three, 31-28.
The Bulldogs then got the ball back after the Bulldog defense stopped the Rangers at the one quickly moved down the field on the arm of Ford. On second and goal from the one, Ford scampered in from a yard out to give Holmes the 35-31 lead after Lindsay's kick was good with 12 seconds to go.
The Rangers then started their last drive of the night from the 35. The Bulldogs were flagged with pass interference before the Rangers scored on the last play of the game on a Hail Mary from 50 yards out.
Ford finished the game 16-of-26 passing and 331 yards and two touchdowns in less than two quarters of play. Boykin caught 11 passes for 222 yards and a toucdown. Johnson had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, Cayden Burger four catches for 41 yards and Tristin Purnell had two catches for 27 yards.
Jalon Townes finished with 12 tackles and one tackle for loss. Bishop Riley followed with nine tackles and one TFL while Dandreyus Giles had eight, Octavious Pernell had six and Dtrevion Parker, P.J. Pace, E.J. Segrest and Lance Carson each had five.