Booneville, Miss. - The Northeast Mississippi Community College football program will honor a special group of young men and support a great cause during its final game of the 2017 campaign.
Northeast will hold its annual Pink Out Game on Thursday, October 26 against Northwest Mississippi Community College. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.
Everyone is encouraged to wear pink items of clothing to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Northeast's sensational sophomore class will be recognized during pregame festivities as well.
Those that cannot attend the matchup can watch it live and in high definition on NEMCCTV. Tune in starting at 6 p.m. for the pregame show by visiting www.nemcctv.com on any computer, smartphone or tablet.
The Northeast Broadcasting Network also includes new radio affiliate WOWL Fun 91. An audio simulcast featuring Jody Presley and Carter Smith, the Voices of the Tigers, can be heard on frequencies 91.9 FM from Burnsville, 92.9 FM from Florence, Ala., and 102.3 FM from Killen, Ala.
Search and follow @NEMCCTigers on Twitter for live in-game updates and interact during the matchup by using the hashtag #TigerPower across all social media platforms.
Northeast welcomes its second top-five opponent to the City of Hospitality this season in the Rangers, who are No. 3 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll.
East Mississippi Community College was No. 2 in the NJCAA's rankings when they visited the Booneville campus in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division opener for both schools.
The Tigers have the chance to gain a bit of revenge this season. Northwest eliminated Northeast from playoff contention one year ago, but with a loss the Rangers would move from division leader to on the outside looking in themselves.
"We're going to have to do our best to keep everything in front of us," said Tigers head coach Greg Davis. "We just have to be patient and move the field offensively and that's something we haven't done the last two years against Northwest. We're going to have to generate some offense."
Northeast (3-5, 2-3) should have plenty of confidence on that side of the pigskin after posting a season-best 433 yards in a heartbreaking loss last Saturday at Holmes Community College.
Among that total was 349 yards through the air from quarterback Desmond Hunter of Wilkinson County High School. His six touchdown passes are the most in a single game by a Northeast signal caller in at least a decade.
Hunter now has 14 touchdowns this season, which is third most in the MACJC. He now has 1,106 yards and is the fourth consecutive Tiger starter to throw for over 1,000 yards in a year.
"He's shown what he can really do in the last five games," Davis said. "I think we've hit our stride with him. He's done nothing but phenomenal work and hopefully has a little magic left."
Toreano Miner of New Orleans, La., has been one of the beneficiaries of Hunter's exceptional play. His receiving figures have increased to 28 catches, 468 yards and five touchdowns.
Hernando products Ross Painter and O.D. Wooten have double-digit receptions as well with 20 and 18, respectively. The duo has combined for 486 yards and six scores as well.
Kenzie Phillips will wrap up a brilliant career at Northeast against the rival Rangers. He is only the second Tiger running back in the last decade to rush for over 1,000 yards over a two-year career.
The Oxford native currently has 1,153 yards and 10 touchdowns during 17 appearances in a black-and-gold uniform. Phillips is just 39 yards away from becoming the first Northeast standout since Jaquise Cook in 2010 to run for more than 700 yards in a season.
The Tigers have forced 16 turnovers this year, which is fourth most in the Magnolia State. Sam Williams of Montgomery, Ala., has the most with three fumble recoveries while Hernando's Quentin Frazier, Ludlow's Dazion Kincaid and J.T. Loving have two takeaways apiece.
Kincaid has a team-best seven passes defensive with five breakups and two interceptions. Williams also paces Northeast with 7.5 tackles for loss while the Shannon combo of Vincent McIntosh and Loving have seven stops in the backfield apiece.
Louisiana Tech University transfer Jack Abraham directs Northwest's offense with a 65.8 completion percentage, 1,749 passing yards and 13 touchdowns compared to five interceptions.
Cole Rotenberry is Abraham's top target with 500 receiving yards and a touchdown. Freshman Kevin Perkins has a team-high 523 rushing yards with five scores for the Rangers (6-1, 4-1).
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) commit Hal Northern guides Northwest's defense with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. Keith Brown, Jr., has 48 takedowns to lead the Rangers.
Northwest has won the last two meetings, which have both been in Senatobia, and has a 36-19-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Tigers won the last contest in Booneville with a 25-19 decision that went to overtime.