ELLISVILLE — The No. 3 Northwest Mississippi Community College football team mounted a second-half rally to beat Jones College 38-35 Thursday night at Sim Cooley Field, opening the 2026 season with an upset.
Northwest trailed by 21 points at halftime after a slow start on offense and some miscues. Offensive coordinator Stan Hill credited the team’s adjustment to better execution and leadership. “We were just rusty,” Hill said. “At halftime, everybody was on the same page with the little mistakes and not playing our brand of football, and we got it together. We got some leadership, and they came out and made plays, and we got a dub.”
Sophomore receiver TyAnthony Elmore starred, setting a single-game school record with 15 receptions for 243 yards and a touchdown. The defense also made key plays, including interceptions by Jovarious Lundy and Chase Meeking, limiting Jones to just one second-half touchdown.
The Bobcats took an early 7-0 lead after a three-minute drive. Northwest responded with an 11-play, 67-yard drive capped by a touchdown from Macaleb Taylor, narrowing the deficit to 14-7. Jones quickly answered with a 28-yard rushing score from CJ Rush, pushing the lead back to 21 points before halftime.
Northwest started the second half with renewed energy. An 11-play drive brought the Rangers within two touchdowns after a 15-yard pass from transfer quarterback Noah Gillon to Elmore. Gillon, who replaced injured starter Neko Fann, finished 15 of 20 for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Fann was 19 of 37 for 156 yards.
The defense stepped up in the second half, with Lundy’s interception at midfield leading to a touchdown run by Taylor. The Rangers closed the gap to 35-28 late in the game after a 1-yard plunge by Taylor and a 55-yard reception from Gillon to Elmore. Clydarrien Peters then returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 35 with 5:33 remaining.
Jones attempted a deep pass on the next drive but was intercepted by Chase Meeking, giving Northwest a chance to take the lead. After a failed field goal from Will Uselton, the game remained tied. Elmore then led a drive to the Jones 15-yard line, where a roughing-the-passer penalty set up a final 28-yard field goal by Uselton that sealed the victory.
Elmore, who caught 14 passes, praised the team’s resilience. “TyAnthony is a freak,” Hill said. “His best football is in front of him. He’s a playmaker and I can’t say enough about him.”
The win marked a dramatic turnaround for the Rangers, who outgained Jones in passing yards 353 to 209 in the second half. Linebacker Kris Thompson led the defense with nine tackles, and special teams played a vital role with an onside kick recovery and a 40.8-yard average on punts.
Northwest will host Gulf Coast in its home opener Friday at 7 p.m. at Bobby Franklin Field. The game will be streamed on Ranger TV, with a pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more updates, visit nwccrangers.com or follow the team on social media.
