National News

 September 18, 2012

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Changes surround NJCAA football following the fourth weekend of the 2012 season. A Top 10 win and the first week of the NJCAA Football Computer Rankings (FCR) propelled Mississippi Gulf Coast to No. 1 in the poll. Seven ranked teams suffered defeats over the week, including three schools that were upset by unranked opponents.

NJCAA Football Top 20 Poll - Week 5

	COLLEGE	RECORD	POINTS	1st VOTES	PREV.
1.	Mississippi Gulf Coast	3-0	187.5	0	4
2.	Iowa Western	4-0	185.0	0	5
3.	Butler	4-0	182.0	1	2
4.	East Mississippi	3-0	175.0	8	1
5.	Arizona Western	2-0	137.5	0	3
6.	Northwest Mississippi	2-0	137.0	0	10
7.	Nassau	3-0	133.5	0	13
8.	Navarro	3-0	132.0	0	7
9.	Scottsdale	3-0	130.0	0	18
10.	Kilgore	3-0	128.0	0	19
11.	Hutchinson	3-1	74.0	0	14
12.	Itawamba	3-0	72.0	0	20
13.	Snow	3-1	66.0	0	15
14.	NE Oklahoma A&M	3-0	64.5	0	NR
15.	Louisburg	3-0	59.5	0	NR
16.	Hinds	2-1	57.0	0	6
17.	Lackawanna	3-0	55.5	0	NR
18.	Minnesota West	4-0	31.5	0	NR
19.	Eastern Arizona	2-1	29.0	0	8
20.	ASA	3-0	24.5	0	NR

Click Here for Complete Rankings

A Look Back at Week 4’s Top Matchups

#6 Hinds (2-1)	28
#4 Mississippi Gulf Coast (3-0)	41

The 2012 edition of Mississippi Gulf Coast-Hinds began in much of the same way as the 2011 battle. The No. 4 Bulldogs of Gulf Coast built another insurmountable lead in the opening half, taking a 34-0 advantage into the break. MGCCC sophomore quarterback Clint Hatten connected with freshman wide receiver Dhaquille Williams for two touchdown passes, while sophomore running back Byron Nettles (right) rushed for two more. No. 6 Hinds again came out strong in the second half with two touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Christopher Nelson. The Eagles' comeback attempt was too little, too late however, and Mississippi Gulf Coast cruised to a 41-28 victory.

#17 College of DuPage (3-1)	21
#5 Iowa Western (4-0)	65

The early season showdown in the Midwest Football Conference (MFC) quickly turned in the favor of No. 5 Iowa Western after sophomore quarterback Jake Waters threw a school-record five touchdown passes – all in the first half. Waters completed 19-of-24 passes for 307 yards in the Reivers' 65-21 thrashing of No. 17 College of DuPage.

#8 Eastern Arizona (2-1)	20
#18 Scottsdale (3-0)	34

What started as a defensive struggle in the first half quickly turned into a shootout in the second. Despite being shutout in the first thirty minutes of play, the Scottsdale Artichokes put up 34 points in the second half behind five passing touchdowns from freshman quarterback Jordan Gehrke. Freshman wide receiver Justin Rodriguez was on the receiving end of three of Gehrke’s scores in the 34-20 win over Eastern Arizona.

#19 Kilgore (3-0)	34
#11 Trinity Valley (2-1)	16

The Kilgore Rangers matched their three wins from last season with a 34-16 win at Trinity Valley. Kilgore’s defense held the Cardinals scoreless in the first half, while freshman quarterback Tanner Tausch was 12-for-15 passing for 141 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Emory Miller added three touchdowns on the ground to the Rangers’ effort.

Top NFL Performances from Former NJCAA Student-Athletes

Brandon McDonald, CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jones County ’04) – In his first season in Tampa, it didn’t take long for McDonald (right) to tally his first interception as a Buccaneer. Midway through the second quarter, the former Bobcat intercepted New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and returned the ball 40 yards down to the Giants 26-yard line. McDonald and the Bucs ultimately succumbed to New York 41-34 and will take on the Dallas Cowboys Sunday.

Cam Newton, QB – Carolina Panthers (Blinn ’09) – Newton led the Panthers to a 35-27 win over the visiting New Orleans Saints behind his arm and legs. The former Blinn Buccaneer completed 14-of-22 passes for 25 yards and a touchdown. Newton also carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards and punched in his first rushing touchdown of 2012 from five yards out. Newton and the Panthers are headed for primetime Thursday when they host the New York Giants.

Dashon Goldson, S – San Francisco 49ers (Coffeyville ’03) – The 49ers defense continues to excel in 2012 thanks in part to the play of Goldson. The former Red Raven snagged his first interception of the season in a 27-19 win over the Detroit Lions – adding six tackles to the effort. Goldson and the 49ers will look to keep up their stout defensive play Sunday at the Minnesota Vikings.


Top NCAA (FBS) Performances from Former NJCAA Student-Athletes

Cameron Coffman, QB – Indiana (Arizona Western ‘11) – Coffman (right) went 24-for-35 passing for 251 yards in the Hoosiers’ 41-39 victory over Ball State. The former Matador gunslinger also threw two touchdown passes in the shootout. Indiana and Coffman have the week off before heading to Northwestern for their Big Ten opener.

Darius Slay, DB – Mississippi State (Itawamba ’10) – After recording the game-clinching interception last week, Slay continued his tenacious defense in the Bulldogs’ 30-24 win at Troy. The former Indian was involved in three turnovers, picking off two passes and recovering a fumble. No. 23 Mississippi State and Slay return home Saturday to host South Alabama.

Quinton Patton, WR – Louisiana Tech (Coffeyville ‘10) – Thriving in the Bulldogs’ high-octane offense, Patton hauled in seven catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-37 win over Rice. Patton and Louisiana Tech will hit the road this week to face-off against Illinois. 


How the Top 20 Fared in Week 4 

Top 20 Results
1. East Mississippi (3-0) vs. Southwest Mississippi (0-2) – 59-6 (W)
2. Butler (4-0) at Independence (2-2) – 84-7 (W)
3. Arizona Western (2-0) at Pima (0-3) – 32-14 (W)
4. Mississippi Gulf Coast (3-0) vs. #6 Hinds (2-1) – 41-28 (W)
5. Iowa Western (4-0) vs. #17 College of DuPage (3-1) – 65-21 (W) 
6. Hinds (2-1) at #4 Mississippi Gulf Coast (2-1) – 28-41 (L) 
7. Navarro (3-0) vs. Cisco (0-3) – 56-14 (W) 
8. Eastern Arizona (2-1) at #18 Scottsdale (3-0) – 20-34 (L)
9. Blinn (1-2) vs. NE Oklahoma A&M (3-0) – 31-42 (L) 
10. Northwest Mississippi (2-0) vs. Coahoma (0-3) – 44-6 (W) 
11. Georgia Military (2-1) at Dean (2-1) – 28-35 (L) 
11. Trinity Valley (2-2) vs. #19 Kilgore (2-1) – 16-34 (L) 
13. Nassau (3-0) at Monroe (1-2) – 49-7 (W) 
14. Hutchinson (3-1) vs. Dodge City (0-4) – 45-10 (W) 
15. Snow (3-1) vs. Glendale (1-2) – 50-33 (W)
16. Rochester (3-1) at Central Lakes (3-1) – 23-31 (L) 
17. College of DuPage (3-1) at #5 Iowa Western (4-0) – 21-65 (L)
18. Scottsdale (3-0) vs. #8 Eastern Arizona (2-1) – 34-20 (W)
19. Kilgore (3-0) at #11 Trinity Valley (2-2) – 34-16 (W)
20. Itawamba (3-0) at Mississippi Delta (0-3) – 39-9 (W) 
20. Tyler (2-1) vs. *Southeast Prep – 68-7 (W)


Complete NJCAA Week 4 Results (Sept. 13-16) 

Non-Conference
Dean (2-1) def. #11 Georgia Military (2-1) – 35-28
#20 Tyler (2-1) def. *Southeast Prep – 68-7
North Dakota SCS (1-1)  def. *Mayville JV – 59-9
Ellsworth (1-2) def. Arkansas Baptist (0-4) – 29-22
Erie (1-2) def. Alfred State (1-1) – 30-7
Iowa Central (2-1) def. Dakota-Bottineau (0-2) – 57-7
Louisburg (3-0) def. *Gray Military – 34-32
ASA (3-0) def. *Wagner JV – 71-0
Globe (2-1) at *Salisbury – 32-22

KJCCC (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference)
#2 Butler (4-0) def. Independence (2-2) – 84-7
#14 Hutchinson (3-1) def. Dodge City (0-4) – 45-10
Coffeyville (2-2) def. Fort Scott (1-3) – 34-28 (2OT)

MFC (Midwest Football Conference)
#5 Iowa Western (4-0) def. #17 College of DuPage (3-1) – 65-21

MCAC (Minnesota College Athletic Conference)
Central Lakes (3-1) def. #16 Rochester (3-1) – 31-23
Fond du Lac (2-2) at Itasca (0-4) – 32-13
Minnesota West (4-0) def. Northland (2-2) – 41-40
Mesabi Range (1-3) def. Vermilion (0-4) – 47-0
Ridgewater (4-0) def. Minnesota State (1-3) – 28-6

MACJC (Mississippi Assoc. of Community & Junior Colleges)
#1 East Mississippi (3-0) at Southwest Mississippi (0-2) – 59-6
#4 Mississippi Gulf Coast (3-0) def. #6 Hinds (2-1) – 41-28
#10 Northwest Mississippi (2-0) def. Coahoma (0-3) – 44-6
#20 Itawamba (3-0) at Mississippi Delta (0-3) – 39-9
Holmes (1-2) def. Northeast Mississippi (1-2) – 34-14
Jones County (2-1) def. Pearl River (1-2) – 39-34
Copiah-Lincoln (2-1) def. East Central (0-3) – 47-10

NFC (Northeast Football Conference)
#13 Nassau (3-0) def. Monroe (1-2) – 49-7
Lackawanna (3-0) def. Hudson Valley (0-3) – 61-0

SWJCFC (Southwest Junior College Football Conference)
#7 Navarro (3-0) def. Cisco (0-3) – 56-14
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (3-0) def. #9 Blinn (1-2) – 42-31
#19 Kilgore (3-0) def. #11 Trinity Valley (2-2) – 34-16

WSFL (Western States Football League)
#3 Arizona Western (2-0) def. Pima (1-3) – 32-14
#18 Scottsdale (3-0) def. #8 Eastern Arizona (2-1) – 34-20
#15 Snow (3-1) def. Glendale (1-2) – 50-33
New Mexico Military (3-1) def. Mesa (1-2) – 40-34


For more information on NJCAA Football, download the 2012 NJCAA Football Media Guide.

About the NJCAA 
Since 1938 the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has been the governing body of two-year college athletics, offering athletic and academic opportunities to college students. Now entering its 75^th anniversary, the NJCAA is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states. Each year over 60,000 student-athletes compete in one of 28 different sports and the organization sponsors 48 national championship events and nine football bowl games. NJCAA Headquarters has been located in Colorado Springs, Colo., since 1985. For more information visit www.njcaa.org.


Photos Courtesy of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Iowa Western Community College, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mike Dickbernd/IU Athletics and Trinity Valley Community College.