SENATOBIA – Trailing 17-14, the 10th-ranked Northwest Rangers scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and defeated No. 7 Jones College 24-17 here Saturday afternoon at Bobby Franklin Field in an MACJC semifinal matchup.

The Rangers, 8-2, will host top-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast, 10-0, on Nov. 9 for the MACJC championship. The Bulldogs blasted two-time defending conference and national champion No. 13 East Mississippi 31-7 in the other semifinal contest.

The Bobcats end the season at 7-3.

Northwest led 14-10 late in the third quarter when Jones would take the lead.

Quarterback Fred Barnum (Warren Central) connected with Natorian Watts (Petal) on a 55-yard touchdown pass down the middle of the field to end the two-play drive. Cristofer Thompson's (Adams County Christian School) conversion gave Jones a 17-14 lead with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter.

On its next possession, the Bobcats moved to the Northwest 42-yard line. But on third and 9, Barnum's pass was intercepted by Jayce Rogers. Rogers fumbled the ball, but recovered it to give the Rangers possession at its own 38-yard line.

Northwest would then move 62 yards in seven plays with quarterback Jack Walker finding Mack Martin III for a 38-yard scoring strike. Cole Catalano's extra point put the Rangers up 21-17 with 12:47 left in the game.

The Bobcats' next possession also ended in an interception as De Mays came up with the pick.

Northwest would then go from its own 30-yard line to the Jones' 19, where the drive stalled. Catalano's 36-yard field goal capped the 10-play march and put the Rangers up 24-17 with only 3:03 remaining.

The Bobcats had one final chance.

Jones began its final drive at its own 35-yard line and moved for a pair of first downs to the Ranger 30. A 9-yard loss on a sack and a 6-yard pass to Manny Jones (Amory) forced a third and 13 at the Northwest 33 with just over a minute to play.

But Barnum's third down attempt was picked off in the end zone by Christian Cain to end the threat.

The Rangers took two kneel downs to end the game.

Northwest took the game's opening kickoff and went 75 yards in eight plays. Jaquerrious Williams scored on an 8-yard run and Catalano's extra point made it 7-0 with 11:19 to play in the first quarter.

But Jones responded quickly, taking the ensuing kickoff and driving 65 yards in eight plays to tie it up. Ladamian Webb (Opelika, Alabama) scored on a 4-yard run and Thompson's PAT made it 7-7 with 7:20 to play in the first quarter.

It would stay that way until the Bobcats took the second half kickoff and went 50 yards in seven plays. Thompson booted a 38-yard field goal to make it 10-7 with 11:41 showing in the third quarter.

The Rangers regained the lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Walker to Braden Smith with 5:58 left in the third quarter. That ended a 91-yard, five-play drive and Catalano's extra point made it 14-10.

Northwest ended the game with 20 first downs and Jones had 17. The Rangers rushed for 165 yards, compared to 127 for the Bobcats. Northwest had 213 passing yards and Jones had 194. The Rangers had 378 yards of total offense with the Bobcats finishing with 321.

Jones had three turnovers and the Rangers had one.

Kalyn Grandberry (Memphis, Tennessee) rushed 18 times for 89 yards and Webb had 16 carries for 53 yards and a score.

Barnum was 16-of-29 through the air for 194 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Natorian Watts had four receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown, Jones had five catches for 27 yards and Bud Tolbert (Water Valley) had three catches for 35 yards. Nataurean Watts (Petal) had three catches for 19 yards.

Defensively, Daylen Gill (Louisville) had 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. Linebacker Kenderian Dixon (Yazoo County) had 11 tackles and half TFL. End Chei Hill (Miami, Florida) had six tackles, 1.5 TFLs and two quarterback hurries. Linebacker Kevon Cloyd (Columbia) and back Rakeim Ashford (Choctaw County) each had six tackles. Back D.J. Travis (Poplarville) had a pass interception.

Jones ended the game with seven TFLs.