FULTON, Miss. - Freshman wide receiver Jamel Thomas (Caledonia) hauled in a 10-yard pass from Dan Ellington (Olive Branch) for the go-ahead touchdown with 7:50 left as the Indians stunned fifth-ranked Northwest Mississippi Community College 27-24 Thursday night.
A blocked extra point after Thomas' touchdown kept it a three point game. The Rangers quickly drove to the Indians' 26-yard line with a chance to tie the game with five seconds left on the clock. The Indians defense forced the game-tying field goal to sail wide right and sent the sideline into a frenzy celebrating the North Division victory.
Thomas (Caledonia) finished the night with 62 yards and one touchdown on four catches.
The Indians (1-2, 1-0 MACJC North) snapped a two-game losing streak and beat their highest ranked opponent since knocking off No. 4 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to open the 2016 season.
Northwest, who trailed 21-10 at the half, rallied to take a 24-21 lead with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter when Jack Abraham found Jerrick Orr for a 7-yard touchdown. The Rangers (1-1, 0-1 MACJC North) drove 99 yards on 10 plays in just under four minutes to take their first lead of the night.
ICC set the tone early when Jarvis Hayes (Slocomb, Ala.) returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown on the Rangers first play from scrimmage and with Kadarius Forside (West Point) putting the Indians on top, 14-0, at the 10:10 mark of the first quarter on a 3-yard run.
Northwest answered with a 9-yard touchdown pass to JaVonta Payton to cut the Indians' lead to 14-7 before a 25-yard field goal by Drake McCarter made it a four-point game with 5:28 left in the first half.
Former Ranger Keshon Heard (Hamilton) returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to put the Indians up 21-10 at the break after Caleb Comer (Caledonia) added the extra point.
VIDEO: Highlights and postgame reactions from Sailo, Moore, and Ellington
The Rangers scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter on a 13-yard run by Quarderman Sloan.
Defensively, the Indians surrender 499 yards of total offense (350 passing; 149 rushing) on 88 plays but forced the Rangers into three turnovers and blocked an early field goal attempt that proved to be a pivotal play at the end of the night.
With ICC leading 14-7 in the second quarter, David Little (Saltillo) blocked the Rangers' 19-yard field goal that was returned 10 yards by Travis Sailo (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) to the Indians' 40-yard line. Little recorded 6 tackles and broke up 5 passes on the night while Sailo added 3 tackles and a sack.
Devan Hollins (Southaven) recorded a career-high 18 tackles (9 solo, 9 assists) with one tackle for a loss of two yards. Hayes, Tyrese Quinn (Calhoun City) and A'Tarius Moore (Calhoun City) each had an interception on the night.
Offensively, ICC totaled 277 yards on offense (224 passing; 53 rushing) on 67 plays.
Ellington (Olive Branch) threw for 224 yards with one touchdown and one interception on 19 of 34 passing while rushing for 25 yards on 13 carries. Forside rushed 35 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries while Christian Saulsberry (Southaven) had four catches for 65 yards.
The Indians will travel to Scooba to face No. 2 East Mississippi Community College next week. The Lions defeated Northeast Mississippi Community College, 59-0, to improve to 3-0 overall and 1-0 MACJC North.
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