COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – It has been far too long since Northwest Mississippi Community College was on top of the junior college football world, but it is finally time. Ranger football is back.

Northwest is the new No. 1 in the NJCAA Football Poll, jumping Rochester into the top spot. The Rangers are the fourth different team in four weeks to reach number one and it’s their first time back on top since 2000.

Northwest is followed by Rochester (2), Snow (3), Butler (4) and Lackawanna (5) in the top five.
It’s been an unbelievably quick turnaround for second-year head coach Jack Wright, who inherited a 1-8 program in 2013 and on three years probation for the oversigning of players by the previous staff.
Wright and the Rangers are in their final year of probation, which limits Northwest to 50 players against 55 for the rest of the MACJC. Even with the limitations, Wright has led Northwest to back-to-back playoff appearances and wins in 12 of its last 15 games.

Northwest (9-1) has defeated four ranked opponents this season, including wins over No. 19 Jones County, No. 9 Gulf Coast, No. 14 Hinds and No. 17 East Central.

Another tall task lies ahead for the Rangers on Saturday, as they play host to 6th-ranked Gulf Coast for the MACJC Championship. Northwest defeated MGCCC 26-10 back on Sept. 3 in Senatobia. The winner will get the automatic bid into the Mississippi Bowl on Dec. 6 at Biloxi High School.

For Northwest, a win on Saturday would clinch a berth into the national title game.

Saturday’s game will be streamed live at www.nwccrangers.com/watch <http://www.nwccrangers.com/watch> . Pregame starts at 1:30.