[09/05/02]When Hinds and Northwest Community College have met in the past, state championships were usually decided. When the two schools renew their rivalry tonight in Raymond, however, there will be considerably less at stake.

For Northwest, ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll, it’s a chance for younger players to get some game action under their belt.

For Hinds, which is ranked No. 18 in the poll despite last year’s 4-5 record, it’s a good chance to get the program back on its feet. That’s a task not easily accomplished, though, with only five offensive and four defensive starters returning.

“We’re a real young team. We’re just going to have to grow up fast. I’ve got more freshmen on the team than I did last year,” Hinds head coach Gene Murphy said.

Because of his team’s youth, Murphy said he was surprised by their ranking. He wasn’t surprised by Northwest’s ranking, however, even though Rangers coach Bobby Franklin tried to downplay it.

“You know what you can do with that ranking? You can wipe your rear end with it,” Franklin said. “I don’t think we’re No. 2, because we’ve got so many freshmen on the team.”

Murphy said the talk of Northwest being a young team was a bunch of hogwash.

“They’ve got a lot of people coming back on offense. I don’t think they’re in the same boat as us. He’d like to make you think he is,” Murphy said. “I guarantee they didn’t get picked No. 2 (in the preseason poll) because they don’t have anybody coming back.”

The bulk of Northwest’s experience is on its offense, which is led by quarterback Bobby Robison and freshmen running backs Charles Prince and Eugene Cousart, an Arkansas signee.

“I think our offense is going to be ahead of our defense. We’re going to be young defensively,” Franklin said.

One thing the coaches did agree on was that the rivalry isn’t as intense as some fans might believe. In 1999, Northwest beat Hinds for a state championship, then beat the Eagles again in the 2000 regular season when the Rangers were on probation for starting practice early.

Hinds went on to win the state championship in 2000, but Northwest’s players regarded their 42-10 win as the true state title.

“I don’t think much about that stuff during the season,” Murphy said. “When you get into the playoffs, that’s when you think about it.”