Northwest CC falls in bowl game
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Playing in its third straight bowl game on Sunday, fifth-ranked Northwest allowed 17 unanswered points in the first half and could never recover in falling 36-19 to third-ranked Iowa Western in the Graphic Edge Bowl at the UNI Dome.
Iowa Western closed the season 11-1 with the win, while Northwest ended its season at 8-3. It marked the first-ever meeting between the programs.
“That's the best team we've played, in my opinion,'' head coach Benjy Parker said of the Reivers. “Their depth is, I think, what separates them from some other schools.''
Northwest scored on its first two possessions to take a 10-0 lead with 3:22 left in the first quarter, including a nine-play, 99-yard scoring drive that culminated on Jack Abraham's 11-yard touchdown pass to JaVonta Payton.
IWCC responded with an 11-play, 62-yard scoring drive to cut it to 10-7 after one, with Kai Locksley finding Anthony Turner for an 8-yard score. On third-and-15 from its own 48-yard line, Locksley rushed for 21 yards and appeared to fumble with a Northwest recovery, however, officials ruled him down and they would score five plays later.
The Reivers used that lucky break to score 17 unanswered in the half and shifted the momentum in their favor.
After missing a 45-yard field goal a drive earlier, Eddie Ogamba connected on a 28-yard field goal to make it 10-10.
A quick three-and-out for Northwest allowed IWCC to drive 71 yards in 10 plays, capped by Locksley's 5-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Perry to make it 17-10 with 1:12 left in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Northwest started from its own 46-yard line after a personal foul penalty and proceeded to drive it to the IWCC 21-yard line with time winding down. Drake McCarter was setup for a 38-yard field goal, and nailed it right down the middle, but IWCC called for a timeout to wipe it off. His second attempt was no good and the Rangers trailed by a touchdown at half.
Northwest took its opening possession of the second half 73 yards on nine plays with a nice balance of running and passing. Kevin Perkins and Quarderman Sloan helped march it down the field before Abraham's 14-yard strike to tight end Pro Wells. McCarter's PAT was no good and the Rangers trailed 17-16 with 11:25 left in the third.
IWCC immediately responded with a touchdown drive of its own to make it 23-16, traveling 84 yards on just seven plays, capped by Locksley's 10-yard run. Mekhi Sargent was the workhorse on the drive, carrying it for 55 yards on three rushes.
Northwest took its third drive of the third quarter into IWCC territory quickly behind three bruising runs from Perkins and a personal foul penalty. Abraham then found Sloan for a 17-yard gain to the IWCC 20-yard line, but DJ Curtis punched the ball out of Sloan's grasp and the ball shot 20 yards forward into the end zone for a touchback.
The Rangers' next drive, which carried into the fourth quarter, went 81 yards on 18 plays over 7:15. But Northwest had to settle for a 28-yard field goal instead of the game-tying touchdown and the IWCC lead was 23-19 with 9:59 to play.
Back-to-back touchdown drives from IWCC over a four minute span then put the game out of reach, with Locksley throwing touchdown passes to Mike Hill and Nick Singleton to make the final 36-19.
Northwest was held under 20 points for the first time since Oct. 15, 2015, and outgained 457-422 on the day.
Abraham finished 21-of-40 for 246 yards and two scores, while IWCC's Locksley was 31-of-46 for 274 yards, four passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. Wells and Payton had touchdown receptions for the Rangers, with IWCC led by Perry's 15 catches for 119 yards and a score.
Perkins finished with 107 yards, his fourth 100-yard game, against 151 yards from Sargent.
Defensively, Turner Rotenberry finished with 15 tackles, followed by Norwood with 14 and Keith Brown Jr. with 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Brown closed the year with a team-high 94 tackles.
“I think their depth certainly was the key,'' Parker said. “They just had a few more bullets than we did, and it showed in the second half. They were the best team tonight, and hats off to them.''
Others receiving votes: North Carolina State 54; San Diego State 50; Florida Atlantic 24; Toledo 21; Michigan 11; Troy 11; Fresno State 5; Louisville 4; South Carolina 4.
CFP Rankings
1. Clemson (12-1)
2. Oklahoma (12-1)
3. Georgia (12-1)
4. Alabama (11-1)
5. Ohio State (11-2)
6. Wisconsin (12-1)
7. Auburn (10-3)
8. Southern Cal (11-2)
9. Penn State (10-2)
10. Miami (10-2)
11. Washington (10-2)
12. Central Florida (12-0)
13. Stanford (9-4)
14. Notre Dame (9-3)
15. TCU (10-3)
16. Michigan State (9-3)
17. LSU (9-3)
18. Washington State (9-3)
19. Oklahoma State (9-3)
20. Memphis (10-2)
21. Northwestern (9-3)
22. Virginia Tech (9-3)
23. Mississippi State (8-4)
24. North Carolina State (8-4)
25. Boise State (10-3)
Bowl Glance
Saturday, Dec. 16 Celebration Bowl At Atlanta
NC A&T (11-0) vs. Grambling State (11-1), Noon (ABC)
New Orleans Bowl
North Texas (9-4) vs. Troy (10-2), 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Cure Bowl Orlando, Fla.
Georgia State (6-5) vs. Western Kentucky (6-6), 2:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
Las Vegas Bowl
Boise State (10-3) vs. Oregon (7-5), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
New Mexico Bowl Albuquerque
Colorado State (7-5) vs. Marshall (7-5), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Camellia Bowl Montgomery, Ala.
Arkansas State (7-3) vs. Tennessee (6-6), 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Tuesday, Dec. 19 Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl
Akron (7-6) vs. FAU (10-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday, Dec. 20 Frisco (Texas) Bowl
Louisiana Tech (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5), 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, Dec. 21 Gasparilla Bowl At St. Petersburg, Fla.
Temple (6-6) vs. FIU (8-4), 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, Dec. 22 Bahamas Bowl Nassau
Ohio (8-4) vs. UAB (8-4), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise
Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Wyoming (75), 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, Dec. 23 Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl
South Florida (9-2) vs. Texas Tech (6-6), Noon (ESPN)
Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas
San Diego State (10-2) vs. Army (8-3), 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Dollar General Bowl Mobile, Ala.
Appalachian State (8-4) vs. Toledo (112), 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday, Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl Honolulu