Senatobia, Miss. - The Northeast Mississippi Community College football program controls its own destiny as the final contest out of nine during the 2016 regular season comes into full focus.
The Tigers travel to Northwest Mississippi Community College on Thursday, October 27 with the winner advancing to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) semifinals. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Bobby Franklin Field.
Those that cannot attend the contest 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, tablet or smartphone.
The Northeast Broadcasting Network also includes Booneville based radio station WBIP. An audio simulcast featuring Jody Presley and Carter Smith, the Voices of the Tigers, can be heard on 99.7 FM and AM 1400 on your digital dial.
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.
What is essentially a playoff contest in itself is also a battle of top 10 programs. The Tigers are tenth in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll while the Rangers check in at No. 5.
It is the first top 10 head-to-head game featuring the Tigers in 11 years. The last such instance was during a postseason matchup between No. 9 Pearl River Community College and 2nd-ranked Northeast in Booneville on November 12, 2005.
"It'll be fun," said Northeast head coach Greg Davis. "We know what's at stake. We know we've got to win to get in. It's one of those games where anything can really happen. You've got to be prepared for everything."
Davis notes that his Tigers (6-2, 3-2) and defending national champion Northwest are almost identical in terms of offensive and defensive schematics and play calling plus personnel as well.
"Going back to last spring, we're prepared because we've seen exactly the same thing day after day and week after week," he said. "Really and truly we're kinda prepared from the beginning."
Northeast has benefitted all season from the arm of Mason Cunningham. The Shelbyville Central (Tenn.) High School graduate has the most passing yards of any Tiger quarterback in the last decade with 1,723 along with a stellar 59.4 completion percentage.
Cunningham has been surrounded by several phenomenal athletes, including Water Valley's L.J. Hawkins. He is tied for the countrywide lead in receptions with 55 and places fourth with 744 total yards.
Cameron Montgomery of Shannon and New Orleans, La., native Toreano Miner join Hawkins as Northeast wideouts with at least 15 catches, 200 yards and two touchdowns. Montgomery has six scores overall between receiving and rushing.
Oxford's Kenzie Phillips and Dorian Banks from Sevierville, Tenn., have found almost identical success in the backfield. The freshmen duo has combined for 899 yards on the ground with six touchdowns.
The Tigers also feature two of the three best tacklers in the Magnolia State with Tupelo High School alumnus Demarcus Rogers and Birmingham, Ala., product Brenden Williams.
Williams leads Northeast with 78 stops with one caused fumble and one fumble recovery as well. Rogers is right behind him with 77 takedowns, including six tackles for loss.
The Rangers top the conference in takeaways with 21 while the Tigers are second with 19. Peyton McMahon from Southaven guides Northeast's efforts with fived forced turnovers.
Northwest is paced by University of Memphis (Tenn.) transfer signal caller Clay Holgorsen. He has thrown for well over 1,000 yards with 10 touchdowns compared to three interceptions.
Tywun Walters has not lost a fumble this year while running for 729 yards and eight scores. Marquisian Chapman is the top target for Holgorsen with 33 catches, 559 yards and three touchdowns.
Perhaps the strongest point on the gridiron for the Rangers (7-1, 4-1) is their defense, which allows only 16 points per outing. Northwest has 83 tackles for loss and 35 sacks to their credit as a unit.
The Rangers are ahead in the all-time series by a 35-19-2 margin, but the Tigers have claimed two of the last three meetings. Four of the last five contests between the two rivals have been determined by two possessions or less.