National News

 October 16, 2012

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Week 8 of the NJCAA football season saw one of eight remaining undefeated teams go down as schools across the map try to survive the home stretch of the 2012 campaign. With the first set of conference playoffs kicking off this weekend, the year’s window is quickly closing as teams are desperately jockeying for position in the conference standings and national rankings.


Top 20 Rankings – Week 9

	COLLEGE	RECORD	POINTS	1st VOTES	PREV.
1.	Iowa Western	7-0	203.0	4	1
2.	Butler	7-0	184.5	1	2
3.	East Mississippi	7-0	180.0	4	4
4.	Arizona Western	5-0	179.0	0	3
5.	Northwest Mississippi	6-0	172.5	0	6
6.	Nassau	7-0	165.0	0	7
7.	ASA	7-0	149.5	0	8
8.	Navarro	6-1	120.0	0	11
9.	NE Oklahoma A&M	6-1	118.5	0	15
10.	Snow	6-1	117.0	0	10
11.	Mississippi Gulf Coast	6-1	116.0	0	9
12.	Hutchinson	6-1	93.5	0	12
13.	Kilgore	6-1	90.5	0	5
14.	Copiah-Lincoln	6-1	85.5	0	13
15.	Central Lakes	7-1	58.5	0	17
16.	Louisburg	5-1	56.0	0	14
17.	Rochester	7-1	43.0	0	18
18.	Jones County	5-2	25.0	0	19
19.	College of DuPage	5-2	16.5	0	20
20.	Dean	5-2	13.5	0	RV

Click Here for Complete Rankings


A Look Back at Week 8’s Top Matchups

#5 Kilgore (6-1)	24
#15 NE Oklahoma A&M (6-1)	42

With a chance to clinch the SWJCFC regular season crown, No. 5 Kilgore suffered a 42-24 defeat at the hands of No. 15 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. The Norsemen busted open their 21-17 halftime lead in the third quarter with 21 unanswered points. Sophomore quarterback Clayton Mitchem spearheaded the Norsemen attack with 322 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Michael Thompson caught six passes for 101 yards and hauled in two of Mitchem’s three touchdown passes. Despite nearly matching the Norsemen’s offensive output, the Rangers turned the ball over five times including one interception by each of their three quarterbacks. Kilgore freshman quarterback Tanner Tausch finished 18-for-31 passing for 187 yards and a touchdown. With Kilgore’s loss, the Rangers fall into a virtual tie with the Norsemen and Navarro.
 

Georgia Military (4-3)	24
#7 Nassau (7-0)	50

No. 7 Nassau continued their undefeated run with a 50-24 pounding of Georgia Military. The Nassau Lions ran all over Georgia Military, compiling 331 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Lions freshman running back Travis Lock led the way with 10 carries for 172 yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore running back Trey Johnson ran for 108 yards and a touchdown.  Freshman quarterback Clay Chastain completed 21-of-41 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown but threw two costly interceptions, including one returned 98 yards for a touchdown by sophomore linebacker Amara Kamara.
 

#10 Snow (6-1)	57
Mesa (4-3)	9

Any hopes that Mesa had at claiming a WSFL title were dashed by a 57-9 thrashing at home from No. 10 Snow. Trailing 7-3 in the second quarter, the Mesa Thunderbirds surrendered 43-straight points to an unrelentless Badgers’ offense. Snow racked up 557 yards of offense including 239 yards passing by sophomore quarterback Christian Stewart. Badgers sophomore running back Breon Allen and freshman running back Kalama Molisi both surpassed the century mark in rushing with 137 and 103 yards, respectively. Mesa failed to get anything going on the ground, rushing for -10 yards on 24 carries.
 

#17 Central Lakes (7-1)	27
Ridgewater (5-3)	7

Clinching the MCAC Southern Division title, No. 17 Central Lakes walked off with a 27-7 win over Ridgewater. A tenacious effort by the Central Lakes defense held the Warriors to 39 yards rushing and 193 yards of total offense. Ridgewater’s quarterbacks combined for a 26.2 completion percentage and threw five interceptions. Central Lakes had two defensive backs finish with two interceptions in sophomore safety Jared Hoemberg and sophomore cornerback Marion Lambright. Raiders freshman quarterback Andrew Johnson completed 18-of-30 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns.


Top NFL Performances from Former NJCAA Student-Athletes

Ellis Lankster, DB – New York Jets (Jones County ‘06) – Lankster (right) came up with a late interception for the Jets, sealing a 35-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. With the Jets leading 28-9 midway through the fourth quarter, the Colts’ comeback effort was brought to a hault when Lankster Lankster picked off Colts quarterback Andrew Luck in the end zone. The former Bobcat finished with three solo tackles and assisted on another. New York and Lankster will face-off against the rival New England Patriots Sunday.

LeGarrette Blount, RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (East Mississippi ‘07) – The Buccaneers saw Blount have his best performance of 2012 as they cruised to a 38-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Blount carried the ball seven times for 58 yards in the victory and scored the games’ lone rushing touchdown. In the final two minutes of play, the former Lion cut back up the middle and capped off the 12-yard run with a dive into the end zone. Next week, Blount and the Bucs host the New Orleans Saints.

Reggie Nelson, DB – Cincinnati Bengals (Coffeyville ‘04) – In a 34-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns, a bright spot came in the secondary with the effort displayed by Nelson. The former Red Raven tallied five solo tackles and assisted on four more. Nelson also caused his first turnover this season, forcing a fumble against Browns running back Trent Richardson. Cincinnati and Nelson will try to snap their two-game skid Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town.


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

Bo Wallace, QB – Ole Miss (East Mississippi ‘11) – Snapping the Rebels’ 16-game SEC losing streak with a 41-20 win over Auburn, the 2011 NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year enjoyed his best performance in the NCAA. Taking a variety of paths to the end zone, Wallace (right) scored four touchdowns – one passing, two rushing and one receiving. Wallace’s touchdown reception came off a pass by fellow East Mississippi-transfer Randall Mackey. Wallace was on target all afternoon, completing 17-of-22 passes for 226 yards. With a bye this week, Wallace and the Rebels will have two weeks to enjoy the victory.

Quinton Patton, WR – Louisiana Tech (Coffeyville ‘10) – Patton did everything in his power to lead the Bulldogs to victory, but faltered in a 59-57 loss to No. 22 Texas A&M. Patterson tied the school’s single-game record for receptions with 21 and posted a career-high four touchdowns. The former Red Raven was responsible for 233 of Louisiana Tech’s 450 yards through the air. Despite the loss, things look bright for Patterson and the Bulldogs looking ahead as they host Idaho Saturday.

Marion Grice, RB – Arizona State (Blinn ‘11) – Enjoying a big night under the lights, Grice used his playmaking abilities to push the Sun Devils over Colorado, 51-17. The former-Buccaneer running back showcased his receiving abilities with five catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns. Grice and the Sun Devils will face their toughest challenge of the season Saturday when they entertain No. 2 Oregon.

Honorable Mention
Damien Williams, RB – Oklahoma (Arizona Western ‘11) – 167 RuYds, 1 RuTD (95yds), 10 ReYds
Stephen Houston, RB – Indiana (Independence ‘10) – 91 RuYds, 2 RuTDs, 37 ReYds, 1 ReTD
Chandler Whitmer, QB – UConn (Butler ‘11) – 293 PaYds, 2 PaTDs


How the Top 20 Fared in Week 8
Records reflect results to game.

Top 20 Results
1. Iowa Western (7-0) at North Dakota SCS (3-3) – 64-6 (W)
2. Butler (7-0) had a bye.
3. Arizona Western (5-0) had a bye.
4. East Mississippi (7-0) at Northeast Mississippi (2-5) – 49-0 (W)
5. Kilgore (6-1) at #15 NE Oklahoma A&M (6-1) – 24-42 (L)
6. Northwest Mississippi (6-0) vs. Holmes (3-4) – 32-20 (W)
7. Nassau (7-0) vs. Georgia Military (4-3) – 50-24 (W)
8. ASA (7-0) at Lackawanna (4-3) – 17-3 (W)
9. Mississippi Gulf Coast (6-1) at Southwest Mississippi (0-6) – 69-17 (W)
10. Snow (6-1) at Mesa (4-3) – 57-9 (W)
11. Navarro (6-1) vs. *Southeast Prep – 70-7 (W)
12. Hutchinson (6-1) vs. Independence (3-5) – 75-0 (W)
13. Copiah-Lincoln (6-1) at Pearl River (2-5) –  44-21 (W)
14. Louisburg (5-1) had a bye.
15. NE Oklahoma A&M (6-1) vs. #5 Kilgore (6-1) – 42-24 (W)
16. Iowa Central (5-2) vs. Ellsworth (4-2) – 17-24 (L)
17. Central Lakes (7-1) at Ridgewater (5-3) – 27-7 (W)
18. Rochester (7-1) vs. Minnesota West (5-3) – 52-0 (W)
19. Jones County (5-2) at Hinds (3-4) – 50-15 (W)
20. College of DuPage (5-2) had a bye.
20. New Mexico Military (4-3) at Eastern Arizona (3-4) – 34-45 (L)


Complete NJCAA Week 8 Results (Oct. 11-14)
Click Here to view Conference Standings

Non-Conference
#7 Nassau (7-0) def. Georgia Military (4-3) – 50-24
Globe (5-2) def. Alfred State (3-2) – 27-17
*Trinity Bible def. Dakota-Bottineau (0-6) – 35-21
#11 Navarro (6-1) def. *Southeast Prep – 70-7

KJCCC (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference)
Garden City (5-2) def. Highland (1-6) – 28-17
#12 Hutchinson (6-1) def. Independence (3-5) – 75-0
Coffeyville (5-2) def. Dodge City (0-7) – 52-13

MFC (Midwest Football Conference)
#1 Iowa Western (7-0) def. North Dakota SCS (3-3) – 64-6
Ellsworth (4-2) def. #16 Iowa Central (5-2) – 24-17

MCAC (Minnesota College Athletic Conference)
#18 Rochester (7-1) def. Minnesota West (5-3) – 52-0
#17 Central Lakes (7-1) def. Ridgewater (5-3) – 27-7
Northland (5-3) def. Mesabi Range (1-7) – 14-13
Fond du Lac (5-3) def. Vermilion (1-7) – 47-22
Minnesota State (2-6) def. Itasca (2-6) – 21-17

MACJC (Mississippi Assoc. of Community & Junior Colleges)
East Central (3-4) def. Mississippi Delta (0-7) – 31-0
#13 Copiah-Lincoln (6-1) at Pearl River (2-5) – 44-21
#9 Mississippi Gulf Coast (6-1) def. Southwest Mississippi (0-6) – 69-17
#19 Jones County (5-2) def. Hinds (3-4) – 50-15
#6 Northwest Mississippi (6-0) def. Holmes (3-4) – 32-20
#4 East Mississippi (7-0) def. Northeast Mississippi (2-5) – 49-0
Itawamba (4-3) def. Coahoma (1-6) – 31-28

NFC (Northeast Football Conference)
#8 ASA (7-0) def. Lackawanna (4-3) – 17-3
Dean (5-2) def. Erie (2-5) – 33-32
¹Hudson Valley (1-6) def. Monroe (2-5) – 18-17
¹Doesn’t count toward conference records

SWJCFC (Southwest Junior College Football Conference)
#15 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (6-1) def. #5 Kilgore (6-1) – 42-24
Trinity Valley (3-5) def. Blinn (2-4) – 24-9
Tyler (4-3) def. Cisco (2-5) – 84-28

WSFL (Western States Football League)
Eastern Arizona (3-4) def. #20 New Mexico Military (4-3) – 45-34
#10 Snow (6-1) def. Mesa (4-3) – 57-9
²Scottsdale (4-3) def.. Pima (1-7) – 44-21
Glendale (4-2) def. Phoenix (2-4) – 30-7
²Played at Sahuarita High School


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 75th 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 Iowa Western Community College, Nassau Community College, Mickey Garcia/Scoreboardphotos.com, New York Jets, Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics and Snow College.