By OAKLEE FIELDER
Photo by Tierra Green
The Ranger defense stops a Ouachita Baptist University offensive player on Oct 31 at Ranger Field ending in a Northwestern loss to the Tigers.
The Northwestern Oklahoma State Football team was taken down by the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils 51-26 on Saturday afternoon in Alva.
The Rangers were in a hole early into the game. Monticello scored on their first drive and added to their lead with a field goal late in the 1st and another touchdown early in the 2nd. The Rangers’ first drive of the game was a three and out as they were forced to punt on a 4th and 16. Northwestern’s next drives went a bit better, as they earned first downs.
In the 2nd quarter, the Rangers got the ball, but it started rough. On the 2nd play of the drive, Jax Bernard was sacked for a loss of six yards. On a 3rd down and 17 yards to go, Bernard made a pass to Royal Kyle, who caught the ball and ran for 37 yards, earning a first down and giving Northwestern momentum. The Rangers made small gains with rushes from Ezequiel Luna and passes from Bernard to Merric Judd.
On a 2nd and 6 in Boll Weevil territory, the Rangers were caught with an illegal block in the back, sending them back 15 yards and putting them in another 3rd and long situation. Bernard made the pass to Koda Bridges who ran for 28 yards and gave Northwestern another high pressure first down. The Rangers continued on with the drive when two plays later, Monticello was caught with a pass interference penalty, giving Northwestern 15 extra yards.
Deep into Monticello territory, the Rangers had to score on this drive. Northwestern made it to the 9-yard line where Bernard made a pass to Bridges who ran into the endzone for a Northwestern touchdown. Sean Kallauner scored the extra point kick, and the Rangers were on the board with the score 17-7.
Following the Ranger touchdown, both teams went three and out, punting after just three plays. Monticello caught the Ranger defense on their back foot, and after a pass interference penalty against Northwestern, the Boll Weevils found themselves with a chance to extend their lead. Monticello scored the touchdown four plays after the penalty, and the Boll Weevils were up 23-7 to end the 1st half.
Monticello scored a touchdown three minutes into the second half after both teams went three and out. After their touchdown, the Rangers fumbled the kickoff and lost the ball to the Boll Weevils. In one play, Monticello scored another touchdown and gave themselves a 30-point lead, 37-7.
Monticello scored another touchdown on their next drive to make it 44-7, a practically impossible score to come back from for the Rangers.
On the Rangers’ next drive, they found themselves on 4th down when a Boll Weevil was caught with a holding penalty, giving Northwestern a free first down. That penalty bit Monticello’s rear, as Northwestern scored a touchdown that very same drive. A huge play by Luna giving Northwestern 49 yards put the Rangers on the 3-yard line. Luna ran it in for a touchdown and made it a 44-13 game after the point after attempt was missed.
The 3rd quarter ended and the 4th quarter started in Northwestern’s possession. The Rangers started the final quarter on the 41-yard line. A pass from Bernard to Weston Tucker made up 37 yards to give Northwestern great field position on the 4-yard line. Luna tried to run it into the endzone but was stopped. The Rangers tried it again and this time Luna made it into the endzone and scored the touchdown making it 44-20.
Northwestern scored another touchdown on their next drive with a short pass from Bernard to Judd, who ran it 21 yards to the touchdown, 44-26.
With five minutes on the clock, the Rangers had to make a stop after an interception. Monticello ran it to the left and made it past all the Ranger defenders to score a touchdown making it 51-26.
The Rangers tried on their next drive, but failed to convert on a 4th and 10, ending the game in Boll Weevil possession.
Bernard went 14 for 26, a 53% completion rate. Bernard threw 2 touchdowns and 218 yards. Luna had 16 carries and ran for 103 yards with two touchdowns. His longest run was 49 yards. Weston had the most yards for a receiver with 52 yards in just two receptions. Bridges had 5 receptions, 39 yards and one touchdown. Judd had four receptions, 41 yards and one touchdown.
Aiden Lewis blew the Monticello offense out of the water as he as 12 tackles, all solo. Cade Reynolds had the second most tackles with half of what Lewis had. Reynolds had five solo and one assisted tackle. Terry McCutcheon had five tackles, all solo.
Northwestern has one more game on the schedule. The Rangers face Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday in Weatherford. If the Rangers can take down the Bulldogs, they save their season from being 100% winless.