Coach Ricky Woods, who led the 2007 Bainbridge High School Bearcats football team to a 9-4 record and a berth in the state Class AAAA quarterfinals, has stepped down as head coach of the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers, in Senatobia, Miss.

Last Saturday, Dec. 1, the Rangers, who feature BHS graduate Tarow Barney at defensive tackle, defeated the Kilgore College Rangers from Kilgore, Texas, 47-36 in the inaugural Brazos Valley Bowl, in College Station, Texas. It was their first bowl appearance in 20 years.

Woods spent five seasons as head coach of the South Panola High School Tigers in Batesville, Miss., which is annually one of the top football programs in the country.

From 2002 to 2006, he led the Tigers to a 74-1 record, which included a 60-game win streak.

He also led South Panola to four consecutive Class 5A state championships. Woods was named Schutt Sports Southwest Region High School Coach of the Year in 2004 and was named Class 5A State Coach of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches four times.

During an interview with WTVA Television in Tupelo, Miss., Woods said he has enjoyed working with the Northwest coaching staff and young men since his hire in 2008. However, he said he has two young grand kids who he would like to spend a lot more time with.

“I’m not closing any doors for future coaching opportunities, but I just need a little time off,” he said.