No. 9 Gulf Coast faces physical No. 14 Northwest

With five MACJC teams in the NJCAA top 20, it doesn't take long in this state to run into one on your schedule.

No. 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast is facing No. 14 Northwest Mississippi on Thursday in another long road trip. The Bulldogs travelled to Northeast for the season-opening win, with Senatobia the next stop.

Bulldogs coach Chad Huff said the Rangers, who have already beaten a top 20 team, are big up front on both sides of the ball and have two good running backs. Justin Crawford ran for 134 yards and a score last week against then-No. 19 Jones County, with Max Joseph scoring another touchdown.

"It's going to take a great effort on our part defensively to try to stop the run," Huff said. "They're going to try to be physical, and we've got to match that physicality and match it with more."

Two receivers, Jacob McCrary and Marquisian Chapman, went over 100 yards receiving.

But freshman Gardner Minshew stole the show, earning MACJC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 21-of-31 passes for 332 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball three times, all for 1-yard touchdowns.

"He's real efficient, runs their system well," Huff said. "He was a really good player coming out of high school, the good program at Brandon. He's can throw it, is smart and makes good decisions.

"We're going to have to do a good job playing the run and pass. He can definitely do both."

Minshew will see last week's MACJC Defensive Player of the Week across the line of scrimmage. Gulf Coast's Reggio Dean had 11 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a 72-yard fumble return in his first college game.

The Bulldogs' offense had 358 yards total offense last week, but they were concerned about the ones they left on the field. Several miscues stymied drives.

"Last week, we were our own worst enemy," he said. "If we can eliminate the mistakes and do what we're capable of doing, I think we'll have a chance at the end to win it."

Football coaches like to say that teams improve most between the first and second games of the season, something Huff thinks will be the case this go around.

"The kids responded this week," he said. "I'm pleased with how the kids have come to work this week. We've made strides in all phases. Hopefully that will show Thursday night."