WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southwestern Oklahoma State came into the final game of the season separated by one game and left the stadium with the same record, as the Rangers took down the Bulldogs 28-6.
Northwestern has been on the losing side of the series for the past six meetings, and haven't produced a win over the Bulldogs since 1995, but it all changed Saturday when the Rangers poured it on the hosts in the second half.
Starting quarterback, Reid Miller had an outstanding final game of the season, going 20-for-30 through the air for 245 yards, collecting three touchdowns along the way to lead his team to the winner's circle.
Senior Linebacker, Alex Hemberger also had a monster game, the biggest of his Ranger career, recording 20 tackles in the contest. Hemberger's huge day put him at 134 tackles on the season, giving him a final average of 13.4 tackles per game.
The first half of play was fairly uneventful in that they only scored 13 points combined. Southwestern struck first in the game, scoring from three yards out, but the PAT was batted down, ending the drive in just six points.
It didn't take the visitors long to answer as the Rangers marched 75 yards in nine plays to take over the lead 7-6. The score ended up being the final play from scrimmage in the first half of play.
The black-and-red have led two other times at halftime this season and came away with two wins when it occurred and were looking to do it again against their arch rival.
Northwestern's second drive of the second half came with great field position as they were given the ball at the SWOSU 36 yard line and capitalized on it three plays later after a Miller pass to Dashawn Gordon who caught the 32 yard pass for the score.
Neither team was able to muster any more scores in the third, but the second drive of the fourth for the Rangers ended in another touchdown.
Justin Schanbacher had a big day for Northwestern as the junior caught three passes for a total of 82 yards, with the last reception ending in a 64 yard touchdown where he outran the defenders for the score.
Just three plays later, Northwestern found the endzone again following a four yard touchdown run by Avery Morris.
The score by the Ranger senior ended up being the final scoring drive of the game, ending the contest in Northwestern's favor.
The 3-7 Rangers finished off the year on a two-game winning streak, maintaining an amazing undefeated on the field record against Southern Nazarene and snapping a 19 year drought of loss against the arch rival Bulldogs, who Northwestern ended up sharing the final 3-7 record with.
