Week 3 of the MACCC season delivered upsets, statement wins, and a shakeup in the North Division race. Two teams stayed unbeaten, but the week’s defining moment came when a reigning champion fell.
East Mississippi stunned Northwest Mississippi 34-28.
The Lions stormed out to a 24-0 lead. Northwest rallied late, closing the gap to six, but ran out of time. For EMCC, the win erased any doubt after a shaky start to the season. For the Rangers, it was a reminder that defending a title takes more than pedigree, it takes four quarters of execution.
Northeast Mississippi kept its perfect record intact with a 24-7 victory over Mississippi Delta.
The Tigers once again leaned on consistency rather than flash. Quarterback Jeremiah Harrell managed the game efficiently, while the defense kept Delta out of rhythm. Three straight wins by double digits make Northeast look like the steadiest team in the league.
Holmes exploded offensively in a 53-14 rout of Coahoma.
Quarterback Chase Richardson lit it up with 252 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Bulldogs also scored twice on defense, including a pick-six, turning a division opener into a showcase. It was a dramatic turnaround for a team that managed just six points two weeks earlier.
Itawamba flipped the script in Decatur.
Trailing East Central at halftime, the Indians controlled the second half behind a relentless ground game and clutch special teams. Running for 204 yards and leaning on kicker Eli Burciaga—who drilled three field goals and two PATs—ICC pulled away 23-14. It wasn’t flashy, but it was disciplined football that wore down the Warriors.
Southwest Mississippi ran past Pearl River 35-20.
The Bears imposed their will on the ground, piling up 271 rushing yards. Jalen Williams led the charge with 178 and a score. Pearl River quarterback Ian González tried to answer with 165 total yards and two touchdowns, but the Wildcats couldn’t match Southwest’s physicality.
Gulf Coast stayed unbeaten with a 28-24 win over Jones.
The Bulldogs outlasted a late Bobcats surge, proving they can grind out close ones as well as blowouts. At 3-0, Gulf Coast looks every bit the South Division favorite.
Hinds showed the same kind of toughness in a 31-29 win over Co-Lin.
Unlike their Week 1 blowout, this one demanded poise. The Eagles’ ability to hold off a divisional rival in the final minutes underlined their growth.
Three weeks in, the league has a new look. Northeast, Gulf Coast, and EMCC are all undefeated in conference play, while Northwest is suddenly chasing. The North Division is wide open. The South has a clear frontrunner but little margin for error.
MACCC Week 4 Preview
The Week 4 spotlight is on Goodman.
Undefeated Northeast travels to face Holmes in a North Division clash with first place on the line. Northeast has been steady. Holmes has been volatile—scoring six points one week and 53 the next. Thursday night will reveal which version of the Bulldogs is real.
In Fulton, East Mississippi meets Itawamba. The Lions come in riding high after toppling Northwest. The Indians just proved they can win with patience and physicality. This rivalry matchup will test whose style holds up over four quarters.
Northwest gets a chance to reset at home against winless Coahoma. After letting EMCC slip away, the Rangers can’t afford a stumble here. For Coahoma, it’s about pride and progress against a heavyweight.
Hinds hosts Mississippi Delta. The Eagles have already shown they can grind out tough wins. Delta is still looking for its first. On paper, it’s a mismatch, but games like this can expose whether a contender is focused.
Pearl River welcomes East Central in a battle of teams trying to salvage momentum. Both are winless in the division. Pearl River flashed offensive punch in Week 3, while East Central has struggled to find consistency. Someone will leave with a much-needed lift.
Co-Lin and Jones both sit at 2-1 overall but 0-1 in league play. Their matchup feels like an early elimination game. The loser drops two games back in the division race before the season’s halfway point.
And on Saturday, Gulf Coast hosts Southwest for homecoming. Gulf Coast has rolled through three weeks, but Southwest’s ground game looks like the kind of challenge that can test the Bulldogs.
The stakes are rising. Division races are tightening. And with every week, the margin for error shrinks.
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